Period
c.1660’s
The Brick Chapel at St. Mary’s
HISTORICAL LEGACY
The Brick Chapel in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, is known for its symbol of religious freedom. Built in 1667, it was a chapel built outside of the English colonial world where it was illegal to openly practice faiths outside of the Church of England. Over years of religious turmoil, the church was dismantled brick by brick and turned into a new manor house at the St. Inigoes mission. In 1753, the Jesuits sold the land the chapel was originally on to William Hicks, who converted the former chapel site and cemetery into agricultural fields.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
In 1981, the land was purchased by The State of Maryland for the Historic St. Mary’s City museum. The State of Maryland conducted Intense archaeological research resulting in the rediscovery of the Brick Chapel’s foundation. MCWB was hired as the official chapel architect to prepare designs for the recreation of the original chapel, prepare cost estimates, and produce schematic drawings.
RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION
This unique project resulted in consulting with experts in Jesuit history and studying contemporary English buildings to fully understand the historic fabric of the chapel. Identifying materials, craftsmen and contractors played a large part in defining the success of this significant rebuild.
All available contemporary and European records and images were carefully researched before schematic designs were completed. Subsequently, the architects undertook field investigations of contemporary brick structures in England and Flanders. The design was then further developed, and reconstruction was ready to commence.
REALIZATION
Construction techniques, materials, and assemblies accurately replicating late-17th century building technology were used at the chapel. Face bricks were produced using clay dug from the site. Oyster shells were fired in a wood-burning kiln to produce lime for the mortar.
The masonry walls were erected from wooden pole scaffolding and lashed together with rope. The terracotta roof tiles were handmade and imported from England. At the completion of the exterior work, the brick walls were color-washed and penciled utilizing a color-wash formula commonly used on masonry buildings in the 17th century.
The rebuilding of the 1667 Brick Chapel is a tribute to the deep historical and cultural significance of St. Mary’s. As one of the earliest Catholic chapels in the American colonies, its recreation honors the stories, faith, and craftsmanship of the past.
