Before you stands Saint Dominic Church a testament to faith resilience and history. Its story begins long before its current form. The land has held Catholic families and institutions since 1735. Widow Ann Rozier Carroll a relative of Charles Carroll signer of the Declaration of Independence owned it. Her remarriage to Benjamin Young Commissioner of Crown Lands adds a layer of intrigue to Saint Dominic’s origins. Young lost his position when he became Catholic after the English government took control of Maryland. The family lived in a manor house with a private chapel. The property eventually passed to Rev Notley Young Jr a Georgetown College professor.
In 1853 Dominicans purchased the land for $5055 to build Saint Dominic Church. Before the church was constructed Masses were held at George Mattingly’s residence. His grandfather Robert E Mattingly a District of Columbia judge remembered people attending Mass kneeling and standing in the street. George Mattingly donated a stained glass window of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A family connection to the Dominican order existed through Nicholas Young who married the sister of Rev Edward Fenwick O P who founded the St Joseph’s Province the first Dominican institution in the United States.
Saint Dominic Church was officially founded in 1852 by Rev George A J Wilson. It opened on March 19 1854 in an area called The Island due to a canal connecting the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. As the congregation grew a new sanctuary was dedicated June 13 1875 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley of Baltimore. The church played a role in national events. Following President Garfield’s assassination Saint Dominic’s joined other churches in prayer. Tragedy struck March 12 1885 when a fire destroyed the church’s interior. Parishioners both Catholic and Protestant rallied to rebuild it.
The church faced further challenges during urban renewal in Southwest Washington in the 1950s. Thousands of families were displaced. The church’s property was threatened but an act of Congress protected Saint Dominic Church. The Interstate 395 construction demolished the priory school and convent. Despite these challenges Saint Dominic Church endured.
Today Saint Dominic Church stands as a vibrant community center. It hosts various groups including the Dominican Third Order Young Adults and the St Dominic Cenacle. The Knights of Columbus also meet there. Its interior boasts stunning stained glass some dating back to 1875. The Hilborne Roosevelt Organ a cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt’s creation adds to the church’s unique character. The church bell cast in 1898 continues to call its community to worship. Saint Dominic Church a place of worship and community that has persevered through trials and transformations stands strong. Lyndon B Johnson occasionally visited to pray reflecting on his faith. His daughter Luci often asked the friars to pray for him during the Vietnam War. His visits highlight the church’s role in the lives of prominent figures. Step inside and experience the rich history of this remarkable church for yourself.