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3755 St. Paul Street
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
Tel: 410.465.1670
Growth, renovation, expansion: Sitting on a hill overlooking historic Ellicott City, St. Paul's
Catholic Church is a landmark and home to many eastern Howard County families. St. Paul's
Church was dedicated on September 13, 1838 . At that time, it was the only Catholic church
between Baltimore and Frederick. The church was built on land acquired from George Ellicott,
an early settler to the region.
The outside of the church was gray granite from a nearby quarry. The inside was plain and
unpainted with large plain glass windows. Before the church was completed, St. Paul's first
pastor, Father Henry Coskery celebrated Mass at Castle Angelo on the opposite hill. Father
Coskery was also the sponsor of Christian Brothers in the United States.
During the Civil War, the basement of the church served as a hospital for all soldiers - both
Northern and Southern. After the Civil War, a series of renovations began. Frescoed walls,
a marble altar flanked by carved wooden angels, a silver crucifix and elaborate German
silver chandeliers were added to the church. The main altar was built with Scotch marble,
and the tabernacle was covered in white marble with a brass door. Tinted glass windows and
two marble side altars were added. In 1896 the steeple topped by a Celtic cross was added.
In 1976 a wood carving of St. Paul from northern Italy was added.
In 1922 St. Paul's parish school opened , and was staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
The school was housed in the former Patapsco National Bank building (which is now Dohony Hall).
As the church and school continued to grow, a new school was built on the outskirts of town.
This school was completed in 1966 and was named St. Paul the Apostle School. In 1974, spurred
by the continued growth in Howard County, the Church of the Resurrection was incorporated on
the site. The school now operates as St. Paul - Resurrection School, an inter-parish school serving
both parishes.
The interior of the church was renovated in 1992. In 1999 a major expansion of the worship
space began. The "new" church, in its cruciform shape, with soaring roof lines, was rededicated
January 6, 2001 by William Cardinal Keeler.
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