About St. Mary · Bryantown, Maryland
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Bryantown, Charles County, Maryland, canonically established in 1793 on part of the original Boarman's Manor tract. It is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington, with worship on the site dating back even further to a private chapel of the 'Upper and Lower Zechiah and Mattawoman' congregation. The parish serves a diverse rural Southern Maryland community, operates a Pre-K-3 through 8th grade Catholic school (since 1915), and is home to a notable cemetery that includes the grave of Dr. Samuel Mudd. The current pastor, Rev. Rory T. Conley, also holds a doctorate in Church History and serves as Historian for the Archdiocese of Washington.
- Established
- 1793
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Rory T. Conley
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Mary's Bryantown is a historic parish where deep rural Catholic roots meet a welcoming, diverse community of longtime and new families. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, the Miraculous Medal Novena, and a robust Rosary devotion, alongside a Pre-K through 8th grade Catholic school founded in 1915 and active youth, religious education, and alumni ministries. Whether you're drawn by its 230+ year history, its cemetery, or simply a small, faithful community grounded in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, St. Mary's offers a place to pray, serve, and belong.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
- Tuesday 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
- Friday 9:00 AM – 9:20 AM and 6:30 PM – 6:50 PM
- Saturday 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM and 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Adoration times
- First Friday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Parish Overview & Welcome
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bryantown welcomes visitors as disciples of Christ called to love the Lord above all and to love others as Christ loves us. The parish community is described on its own site as having deep rural roots — with many families who have been in the parish for generations — and as having been blessed in recent years by new arrivals to the area. Old and new, young and not as young, the parish is racially diverse and unified by its common baptismal call. The parish is canonically established in 1793 and belongs to the Archdiocese of Washington.
- Deep rural parish with multi-generational families
- Growing diverse community of new and longtime parishioners
- Archdiocese of Washington parish, canonically established 1793
Parish History
Catholic worship in the Bryantown area goes back to 1654, with land for a log cabin church set aside in 1743. The current parish traces to a chapel at Lower Zechiah on William Boarman's estate, part of the larger 'Upper and Lower Zechiah and Mattawoman' congregation. On August 15, 1793 Archbishop John Carroll dedicated a frame church that replaced the log chapel; it served 51 Catholics. By 1846 a new brick church was underway; 1858 saw the addition of galleries for African American parishioners. A major renovation in 1895 (slate shingles, new belltower, additional seating, three new altars from Miss Gardiner) made St. Mary's the most expensive church in Southern Maryland. A 1963 fire gutted the interior; the rebuilt church was rededicated in 1966 with an enlarged sanctuary and extended rear wall.
- Pre-1793 log chapel; frame church dedicated August 15, 1793
- Brick church built 1846; galleries added for African American parishioners in 1858
- 1895 renovation — slate shingles, new belltower, additional seating
- Interior gutted by fire 1963; rebuilt and rededicated 1966
St. Mary's Cemetery & Dr. Samuel Mudd
The parish cemetery is a significant landmark in its own right, ringed with Victorian family burial plots containing large obelisk monuments. Most famously, it is the final resting place of Dr. Samuel Mudd, the Southern Maryland physician who set the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865, the day after President Lincoln's assassination. The cemetery is documented as a stop on the Booth's Escape Scenic Byway.
- Final resting place of Dr. Samuel Mudd (1833–1883)
- Documented stop on the Booth's Escape Scenic Byway
- Notable Victorian obelisk monuments
Parish Staff
St. Mary's is served by Pastor Rev. Rory T. Conley (a Church historian holding a doctorate from The Catholic University of America and appointed ADW Historian in 1999), two retired deacons, and an IHM sister who ministers to the sick, homebound, and bereaved. A lay Pastoral Associate and a full office and school staff support parish operations.
- Rev. Rory T. Conley — Pastor (also ADW Historian)
- Deacon Eugene S. Burroughs (Retired)
- Deacon Henry D. Middleton (Retired)
- Sister Theresa Frere, I.H.M. — Ministry to the Sick, Homebound and Bereaved
- Luke Slay — Pastoral Associate
- Karen Krechman — Coordinator of Religious Education and Youth Ministry Leader
- Catherine Silverstone — Principal (school)
- Sarah Crozier — Professional Development Director
- Lisa Shumaker — Parish Accountant
- Terri Cantor — Parish Administrative Assistant
- Judy Limerick — Parish Secretary
- Penny Bailey — staff
St. Mary's School
St. Mary's School has provided Catholic education in Bryantown since 1915, when five Sisters of Notre Dame opened the doors. Originally two buildings — St. Mary's Elementary (white children, 104 students) and St. Mary's Colored School (96 students) — the school grew to include Notre Dame High School in 1921, which graduated its first class in 1924 and was accredited in 1925. A boarding school operated from 1921 to 1931. After 51 years the original school was closed in 1967 due to an unsound building, and in November 1967 a new $1 million educational complex (elementary school, convent, and parish hall) opened. Today the Cognia-accredited school serves Pre-K-3 through 8th grade with religion, art, music, P.E., Spanish, computer technology, accelerated reading/math, instrumental band, drama, DI, SeaPerch, STEM, and sports programs.
- Catholic school in continuous operation since 1915
- Cognia-accredited; Pre-K-3 through 8th grade
- Originally twin schools: St. Mary's Elementary & St. Mary's Colored School
- Notre Dame High School added 1921; accredited 1925
- Original school closed 1967; new $1M complex opened November 1967
- Located at 13735 Notre Dame Place, off Oliver Shop Road
Faith Formation, Youth & Adult Ministries
Religious education (CCD) and Youth Ministry are led by Karen Krechman, Coordinator of Religious Education and Youth Ministry Leader; registration for the fall CCD year is open on the parish website. Adult Faith Formation has included recent multi-week evening series such as 'Abandonment to God's Will,' held with dinner provided. Praise & Worship evenings offer music, Scripture sharing, and testimony for adults seeking a prayerful gathering beyond Sunday Mass.
- CCD (Religious Education) for parish children; registration via website
- Youth Ministry Leader coordinates youth-focused offerings
- Adult Faith Formation series (e.g. 'Abandonment to God's Will')
- Praise & Worship gatherings — music, Scripture, testimony
- Religious Goods Store on parish grounds
Parish Alumni & Heritage Ministries
Two alumni ministries at St. Mary's are devoted to preserving the parish's educational heritage — one for the alumni of St. Mary's Colored School (1915–1967), and one for the alumni of St. Mary's Notre Dame School. Each operates with a stated mission of memory-keeping and community for those connected to these historic parish schools.
- St. Mary's Colored School Alumni Committee — preserves history of the 1915–1967 school for children of color
- St. Mary's Notre Dame Alumni Association
- Chesterton Academy of St. Mary's — affiliated Catholic high school option in the Catholic tradition
Visiting & Contact
The Parish Office sits in the lower level of the Rectory (the brick building to the left of the church), reachable via stairs on the right side of the Rectory. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. After hours, callers follow prompts on the parish voicemail greeting to reach individual staff. For sacramental emergencies (Confession, Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick) in a near-death or after-hours critical situation, a dedicated Sacramental Emergency line is provided.
- Parish Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sacramental Emergency line: (240) 682-5744
- Wheelchair-accessible parish grounds
- Mailing address: 13715 Notre Dame Place, Bryantown, MD 20617-2110