About Saint Mary Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Church in Newport, Rhode Island:
With numerous Catholics working at nearby Fort Adams, Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick chose to assign the newly ordained Father Robert Woodley to Newport to found a congregation.
On April 8, 1828, Father Woodley purchased land on Barney Street that included a schoolhouse, which was later remodeled for use as a church. As the first property held in the name of the Catholic Church in Rhode Island, the land still remains the property of the diocese. Its purchase marked the origin of St. Mary’s parish. In November of the same year, the church was consecrated and the parish was officially established. However, the original building soon proved to be too small. Five years later, in 1833, a wooden structure church seating eight hundred was constructed on an adjacent lot and dedicated to St. Joseph.
As the Catholic population continued to grow, it became apparent that the members needed a larger church. Although in use for only a few years, the church constructed in 1833 was poorly built and considered unsafe.
Work began on a new church, to be built in Gothic Revival style, on August 7, 1848, with the men of the parish volunteering at least one day’s labor to help dig the “trenches.” The first stone was laid August 15, and the following day, the walls began to take shape; the church seated 700 worshippers. On June 14, 1849, Bishop Bernard O’Reilly consecrated the building, committing it to the patronage of the Holy Name of Mary, Our Lady of the Isle.
In the late 1800s, the Austrian Tyrolean Art Glass Company fashioned the magnificent stained glass windows for St. Mary’s. The Reverend Phillip Grace, then pastor, supervised the installation of the forty-two stained glass windows that remain as breathtaking now as they were then.
During the Civil War (1861-65). The United States Naval Academy relocated from Annapolis, Maryland, to Bellevue Avenue in Newport for four years. During that period, St. Mary’s Church served as the chapel for the Naval Academy. I should be noted, that although Maryland was a slave state, it did not secede from the U.S.
Saint Mary’s hosted a number of society weddings. In 1871, Colonel Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, grandnephew of the Emperor of France, married Caroline LeRoy Edgar, a granddaughter of Daniel Webster. According to 1881 records, Colonel Bonaparte was one of St. Mary’s most generous patrons. In addition, several wealthy patrons played an important role in maintaining the church.
Perhaps the most famous wedding that took place here was on on September 12, 1953 when Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was married to then-Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy at St. Mary’s. Archbishop Richard Cushing (later Cardinal Cushing) of Boston performed the ceremony, and, over the three years that President Kennedy held office, when he and the First Lady spent weekends in Newport, they attended Sunday Mass at St. Mary’s Church. They always sat in pew #10.
Although it has nothing to do with this church, we have always liked this song about two U.S. presidents, one U.S. Senator and one civil rights leader, assassinated throughout history. Presidents Garfield and McKinley were also assassinated, but not mentioned in this song.
St. Mary’s Church, its School of Religion, and Rectory were added to the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
Traveling to Saint Mary Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Church in Newport, Rhode Island:
Tel: +1 (401) 847-0475