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The Basilica of St. Mary

The History of the Catholic Church in Virginia

Archivist Virginia Nyce will dive into the history of the Catholic Church in Virginia and its oldest parish, the Basilica of St. Mary, located in Old Town Alexandria.

The Basilica of Saint Mary is the oldest Catholic parish in Virginia. Officially founded in 1795, George Washington famously offered the first donation to build the church. The church enjoys a long and fascinating history, but more than just an interesting story, the Basilica of Saint Mary serves as a helpful image of the larger history of the Catholic Church in Virginia in the early days of the United States. This talk will cover the early history of Catholicism in Virginia, beginning with Spanish missionaries in the 16th-century, and covering such topics as the struggle for religious freedom among colonials and the challenges faced by 19th-century immigrants. 

Virginia Nyce studied French and Italian at the University of Virginia but then switched career trajectories and got her masters in Christianity and the Arts at Kings College London. She worked at the John Paul II Shrine Museum in Washington, DC and the Terra Sancta Museum in Jerusalem before coming to Alexandria to put together the Basilica of Saint Mary Museum. Now she works as the Basilica’s archivist and has been involved in various projects focusing on the history of Catholicism in Virginia, to include the publication of the parish's new history book, Brick Chapel to Basilica: A History of Virginia's Oldest Catholic Parish. 

All Alexandria Reads
Facilitated by the Alexandria Library, this program is designed to create shared experiences through reading. Everyone is invited to read the featured title and selected books for younger readers. All Alexandria Reads is made possible through a generous grant from the James M. Duncan, Jr. Library Foundation, Inc. 

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