Evening star., 1901-05-31
CHURCH OF OLDEN TIME
NOT VESTIGE REMAINING OF
RARRY'S CHAPEL.
Structure Erected in 1906 by Il
Wealthy Settler-His Body
Buried Beneath.

Buried Beneath.
There is not a vestige remaining of one
of the earliest Catholic churches built in
the District-St. Mary's Church, better
known as Barry's Chapel-once located at
the northwest corner of Half and streets
southwest. 1t was erected about the year
1906 by Capt. James Barry, one of the
wealthiest of the early settlers of the Dis
trict for his fellow communicates In the
faith of the Roman Catholic Church In
Carrollsburg. as that section was then
known but more commonly called Buzzard
Point. Even the ground on which 1t was
built has been taken away in the form of
clay to make brick, the original building
having been a number of feet above the
present grade of the streets.
The congregation was served principally
by Rev. Robert Plunket from the opening
of the building till his death in 1918, and
other priests from Georgetown College had
charge until the erection of St. Peter S
Church. at ID and c streets southeast.
about 1923, when its congregation went to
the larger church. The Barrys its chief
support, moved away, and the building fell
into decay.
thirty by fifty feet. fronting east, the altar
being in the west end and a choir gallery
over the main door. Beneath the altar was
a vault, in which were laid the remains of
Captain Barry, his wife Joanna, their
daughters Ann and Mary. and some
others. Alongside of the little church some
interments were made, and the little grave
yard is said to have been we'll attended to
before the abandonment of the church. es-
pecialy before the death of Mrs. Barry,
in 1911.
Captain Barry came to this city soon
after the selection of this locality for the
at of nd
he lived in London and on the continent
at Bombay. India. He spent a few years
in New York and Baltimore. where he had
business interests; indeed. for several years
''of New York and "of Baltimore" He
acquired considerable property in CAROLS
burg and vicinity, among other pieces being
lots in square east of 70S, extending to
the channel of the Eastern branch, be-
tween Q and X streets southeast, and lot
/. square south of 6G7. the extreme south
ernmOst lot in the city. The consideration
in the purchase of the latter was 5000
and covenant to build brick building.
st. Elizabeth Tract.
The most extensive purchase made by
him was the st. Elizabeth tract, which he
bought of James HoXtOn in 1902. The oriEi-
nal patent of 1858 was for coo acres, but on
running the lines it was found to contain
712 acres. The consideration was over
g.
his nephews, James d. and Robert Barry.
That he was a person of influence is to be
seen by the commissioners giving him in
1875 permission to wharf in front of square
I'll by building and occupying Georgia
avenue a privilege accorded to no other
lot owners. 1t is here that Barry's
wharf. known also as Coumbes', has eX-
listed over 100 years.
Mr.. Barry was one among the twelve
councilmen elected the installation of
the city government in 1902, and was the
first president of the first chamber. His
death took place in 1907. the year following
within three years thereafter two daugh-
ters died and were entombed with him
under the altar of st. Mary's.
There was published here in 1910 an
article taken from the Norfolk Herald in
which the writer says few weeks before
while in the city, he was impressed 'by the
melancholy appearance of a small and in
teresting building with a cross on top,
nearly encOmpassed by tall and waving
poplars;" that he was informed that it was
built by Mr.. Barry for those Of his Catho-
lie brethren whose residence was remote
from the parish church. and that Mr.. Barry
and his daughters We're buried in the vault
beneath the chapel, and there was no me-
mortal or inscription by which the traveller
might learn their names.
Mrs. Bnrry's Will.
Mrs Barry died about 1911, leaving two
wills very similar in provision, one made
in August. 1910, and the other in Novem-
ber. 1911 In these she directs that her
body be buried under the altar Of ST.
Mary's Church. with her husband James
ard daughters Ann and Mary; leaves spe-
cfic sums to her sisters and to James D.
David and Robert Barry; $500 to Bishop
Carroll; 800 each to Rev. Fathers Plunket
Young, Hurley of Philadelphia and Moran
vile of Baltimore: directs that her picture
Of the Redeemer be placed in front of the
gallery facing the altar of St. Mary's;
leaves the house 10 her husbands nephew
James d. Barry; 5000 to enlarge the
church. and directs that fund be set apart
TO produce $3.50 annually for the priests
officiating there and 81 900 for weekly
masses for the souls of James, Joanna,
Ann and Mary Barry.
She further directs that as soon as possi-
bic after her deceaSe there shall be select ed
twelve old reduced men and twelve Of the
same description of women, of the parish
of CarrollsburS, and that the men be pro-
vided with outside winter coat each and
the women with large cloaks, and that a
cord of wood be given each The sums due
her husband from the Spanish government
and those due from Bombay she directs to
be converted into American funds and that
5000 be used to enlarge the church; that
lot near the church be reserved for a
charity school for Catholic youth that a
house be built for twenty-four widows or
single women in distressed circumstances
each to have fireplace. and, If the funds
afford to give each 81 per week, In fire wood
and coal. If the property amounts to more
than sufficient to pay the bequests. the
church. charity school and poor house
were to share the remainder and the
names of her daughters We're to be given
to the school and poor house. Bishop Car
roll, Gen. John Eagar Howard Of Balti-
more. Daniel Carroll of Duddington and
James d. Barry (nephew) We're named as
executors.
Doubtless some of the provisions failed in
accomplishment by reason of the excite
ment of war times. and the little congrcga-
tion finally became extinct, rapidly disin-
tegrating after the death of Father Plunket
in 1915.
The Old Building.
There is. however, a reminder Of the
former church in the old building now on a
hill of clay at the northwest corner of
South Capitol and X streets, popularity
known in the past as the Priests House.
from the fact that it was in the palmy
days used by Father Pluuket Father
Neale. Father Young and other priests dur
ing their visits to the parish. This building
Is a square one of brick, said to have been
built originally by Capt. Barry and Ia now