Evening star., 1945-11-04

are the same lots upon which the old
church now stands; other lots being
subsequently purchased from the same
owner. At the time of the transfer of
title it was stated distinctly that the
land was for Catholic chapel-the
designation of church would hardly
apply to the modest little structure;
and, besides, under the domination Of
the established Church Of Maryland,
the name was reserved for houses Of
worship belonging to the Episcopalians
who had churches; Catholics had
chapels; Baptists and Quakers had
meetinghouses.
Begun Before 1872
"The church was begun before 1792,"
1t is said, "but it was not completed,
as appears from letter of Father
Neale to Ignatius Fenwick, a promi-
nent Catholic of the town. This
letter is dated August II, 1892, and en-
powers Mr.. Fenwick to receive dona-
tions and contributions toward finish
ing the Roman Catholic Chapel in
Georgetown. The subscriptions must
have come in slowly. Money was
scarce amongst the scattered Catholic
populations. Besides, the people had
not been accustomed to contribute to
the support of religion. Most Of them
were from the lower counties of Mary
land, where Jesuits employed their
private possessions in the service of re-
ngion, neither asking nor, 1t might be
added, receiving any financial aid from
the people; their personal expenses
were betrayed from the products of
their own farms; their labors for the
people were gratuitous. Pew rents,
ordinary collections during the services
and other sources of revenue for
church purposes, customary and neces-
sary at the present day, were not
known to them.
'It was during the time whilst the
work on the church was delayed
through want of funds that the people
Of what Is now Washington used to
wend their way through the woods to
the chapel of Georgetown College
and the people of Georgetown, until
their church was completed, were de-
pendent on the college.
"The front of the old church remains
the same as it was more than CEN
tury ago; the rest of the edifice was re-
modelled and enlarged to accommodate
the increasing congregation. After the
church was built mass was said in It
only on Sundays for many years.
Father McElroy mentioned in his diary
that the vestments and other requi-
sites had to be borrowed from the col
lege. He says, AS much as can recol-
lect, there was only one vestment of
all colors in the college. and this was
old and much worn. On Sunday morn
ilags it was taken to Trinity Church
together with the Mass Book, for the
celebration OF mass and then brought
back to the college"
John Threlkeld
John Threlkeld, who substantially
donated the ground for the church, was
one of the wealthiest men of his day
and owned in 1790 81 slaves. He was
the son of Henry Threlkeld who was
born at Caburch in the Parish Of
Kirkoswald, Cumberland County, Eng
land, June 2, 1716 20. 81, and died In
Georgetown September Z, 1881, and Is
said to have been descended from 9
Danish general who settled in England
In 1850. Henry Threlkeld came to the
United States In 1740, and settled ir
Georgetown at an early date, anc
bought q tract Of land known as Bur.
leith, being part OF q larger tract
known as Alliance. The land pur.
chased by the pioneer Threlkeld is sale
to have contained 1000 acres and t.
have extended, roughly, from George.
town University to Mount Alto Hos.
pital, his home being situated abou
where is now the Georgetown Vista
tion Convent. Tradition has 1t tina
President Jefferson visited Mr.. Threl
keld, and upon one occasion gave hin
some pecan seed, from which wa
grown enough trees to form an avenu,
70 the old residence.