St. Augustine Parish Profile

St. Augustine Church History

Long before the establishment of the St. Augustine parish in 1844, the area now called simply Elkridge was a thriving community, known as Elk Ridge Landing.  In spite of the present low level of the Patapsco River, Elk Ridge Landing was once a busy port that attracted deep draught ships from all over the world, trading their wares for tobacco.  During Colonial times, that cash crop was grown in what is now upper Baltimore County and packed into large barrels called hogsheads which were rolled down Rolling Road (hence its name) to the wharves on the Patapsco.

In those early years Mass was celebrated by circuit riders and missionary priests in the homes of local residents, usually the more successful farmers and wealthy merchants.  Some folks would make the journey to Ellicott City for Mass.  Today it is hard to imagine a trip to Ellicott City as a journey, but in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, roads were rare, paved or otherwise, and the five or ten mile round trip would consume the better part of a day, even on horse back.

By the early 19th century, the Catholic Christian community in Elkridge had grown large enough to warrant the building of a church and the establishment of a parish.  The laying of the cornerstone took place on October 22, 1844.  Six months later our first little church, a modest brick building high on a hill not far from the Patapsco on the main pike between Baltimore and Washington, was completed at a cost of $2200.  Father Bernard Piot, our first Pastor, would journey from Ellicott City once a month to celebrate the Sacraments.

In 1846, Bishop Eccleston asked the Redemptorists to minister to the parish.  For twenty years they would travel to St. Augustine's from St. Alphonsus Church in Baltimore.  During that period, St. Augustine's was blessed with the ministry of many fine pastors.  One in particular, Father John Neumann served the people of our Parish from 1849 until 1851 just before he reluctantly accepted an assignment as Bishop of Philadelphia.  He was canonized in Rome on June 19, 1977.

After the Civil War, in 1866 the task of assigning pastors to St. Augustine's was taken over by Archdiocese Baltimore and the first Resident Pastor was assigned to the Parish.  During this time one of the first Parochial Schools, not only in Howard County, but also in the Archdiocese, was established here at St. Augustine's. 

In 1892 School Sisters of Notre Dame took charge of our school, and they have served here ever since.

In 1894 funds were donated to build a larger church, which was completed, and then consecrated by Cardinal Gibbons on November 23, 1902.  This is the same warm, lovely church that is presently in use by the Parish. Our present Rectory was built in 1915.

The school building now in use was dedicated, together with the present-day Convent in 1957. St. Augustine's Hall, which is still the largest meeting place in Elkridge, was dedicated in 1961. 

St. Augustine Church Today

Like any good church, St. Augustine Church is a reflection of the community to which we are called to minister.  Elkridge has in recent years become a center of growth in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.  BWI is a busy international airport and with the addition of the recently completed MD-100 freeway connection Columbia to Annapolis, Elkridge stands to see additional growth.  Looking around we see a combination of lovely, older homes in a rural and historical setting, coupled with a tremendous new growth in population and vitality.  Thus, all around us we see the rapid construction of new, modern homes, apartments and condominiums.

We see the effects of this growth in our Parish enrollment.  In 1985, we had approximately 535 families in the parish. Today we count over 1143 registered families.  Last year there were 146 Baptisms, 22 funerals, 37 Weddings, 65 First Communions, 65 First Confessions, 26 Confirmations, and 19 adults were welcomed into the church.  And we found it necessary to add two Masses to the weekend schedule, bringing the total to seven.  Over the last five years 546 children have been baptized into the faith!  We have 324 children registered at our School in covering Pre-School through Grade 8 and our RE (Religious Education Program) educates 373 children in our Faith.

Coming Soon!

St. Augustine Church growth plans based on Heritage of Hope and others.