St. Polycarp, Smyrna

The Smyrna times reported on November 7, 1868:

The members of the Catholic Faith in this town have rented a room in the Odd Fellows Hall for religious services. They have started a Sunday School which will be regularly organized by the Reverend Father Daley, who holds services at the room this afternoon.

This news item could well be considered as an account of the establishment of the Catholic Church in Smyrna, Delaware. At least it was the beginning of the end of Smyrna as a simple mission station. The Catholic Mirror gave the following account on June 23, 1883:

Church dedicated at Smyrna, Delaware. The Catholics of Smyrna, Delaware under the charge of Reverend Bradford of Dover have at least succeeded in procuring a church. Some two months ago a neat and substantial building 35 X 50, until recently owned by the Presbyterians, was purchased for the sum of $2000. On Sunday, the 10th installation of this month the building was solemnly dedicated to the service of Almighty God under the name Saint Polycarp, by the Reverend Bishop Becker of Wilmington, assisted by Reverend Fathers Keiley of Wilmington and Bradford of Dover. The High Mass was sung by Father Keiley of Saint Peter's in Wilmington, assisted by his own choir. The singing of the Mass by this choir of twenty voices was admirable. The people of Smyrna declare it to be the finest ever heard in their own town.

Initially, Mass was said at Saint Polycarp's twice a month. But, as the priests from Dover found the trip very arduous, it was reduced to a monthly Mass in 1895. Later, they arranged for priests from Salesianum to come by train from Wilmington once a month. Finally, in 1911, the Josephite priests, from Clayton, began holding Mass at Saint Polycarp's on the first and third Sundays of each month.

Early in 1918, Bishop Monaghan decided to sell Saint Polycarp's to the Centennial Methodist Episcopal Church and build a new church in Clayton. The Diocese purchased land on West Street, adjacent to the present-day Ewell's Saint Paul Methodist Church. However, due to the outbreak of World War 1, the building plans were postponed and the chapel at St. Joseph's Industrial School, in Clayton, which was established in 1895 became the parish church. Meanwhile, the land that the diocese bought in Clayton was sold to the Methodist Church there.

For the next 50 years, this Josephite Missionary Society served the needs of the church and under their care great strides were made in solidifying Catholicism in upper kent and lower New Castle Counties. Bishop FitzMaurice was anxious to revive the Smyrna Parish of Saint Polycarp's with a diocesan priest as pastor, but was prevented from doing so by World War 2 and the shortage of priests.

On May 26, 1964, Bishop Hyle announced plans to build a new Saint Polycarp's Church on South Street and Ransom Lane in Smyrna. The new parish opened its doors for services the first time on January 20, 1968 and was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Mardaga on May 26, 1968.

During Father Philip Siry's time as pastor from 1975 to 1985, bells and a new cross were added to the church. Later, a new building was constructed to house the Parish School of Religion, meeting rooms, a parish library and parish staff offices. The building was solemnly dedicated in October 2002 following a Mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, eighth Bishop of Wilmington.