Old St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church

Philadelphia County · dedicated 2013 · at church, 250-252 S 4th St., Philadelphia

Founded in 1763, it is one of the nation's earliest Catholic churches and the first Roman Catholic cathedral in Pa. At a time of anti-Catholic sentiment in Colonial America, it symbolized the religious tolerance of Pa. that was later adopted in the US Constitution. The Continental Congress attended services several times as a sign of respect for the Catholic countries of France and Spain, America's allies during the Revolutionary War.

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Marker data: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission via data.pa.gov

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