It's Easter weekend in Ocean City, Maryland, an appropriate time to feature pictures of Ocean City's very first church.
Bishop Thomas A. Becker of the Wilmington Diocese purchased three lots on the barrier island in 1875, the year the resort was founded with the opening of the Atlantic Hotel. (The small lots sold for $100 each in 1875.)
Ocean City's first church, St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church, was built two years later, in 1877. At the time it was one of only three nonresidential buildings on the mostly barren island. A rectory was built next door in 1905. The St. Mary's Star of the Sea history page provides a detailed history of St. Mary's Star of the Sea and its pastors.
St. Mary's Star of the Sea, probably the oldest remaining building in Ocean City today, is in historic downtown Ocean City, at the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Talbot Street. The small, historic church is lightly used these days. Mass is still celebrated in the church on at 7 a.m. Sundays year round. Weekday morning Masses are held at the church during the off-season months.
Many more weekend Masses, and weekday Mass during the season, are celebrated at St. Mary's sister church, the much newer and larger Holy Savior Catholic Church, at 17th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. Complete information on Mass schedules and other church activities is available at the Web site St. Mary's Star of the Sea-Holy Savior Parish.
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All you old time residents of OC should have some pictures of the inside of St Mary's. Back in the day of early 1900's. Your Mother may have been married there . I would like to see the changes inside the Church over the years.
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