St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church - Newark, Delaware
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 39° 41.024 W 075° 44.721
18S E 436084 N 4392921
Historic Roman Catholic Church in Newark, Delaware.
Waymark Code: WMJR7Y
Location: Delaware, United States
Date Posted: 12/22/2013
Views: 2
From National Register nomination:
This one story rectangular church has a central entrance tower and three bays at the south front facade. Both east and west facades are built of natural red brick laid in American common bond with a seven to one repeat. Exterior brick pilasters form five regular bays and flank circular arched stained glass lancet windows at the side walls. Corner buttresses feature both corbelled brick courses and pyrimidal roofs. The entrance tower at the main door exhibits a rose window over the main front door, a corbelled brick cornice, and a single bay porch with gable roof, boxed cornice and dentils under the eaves. The gable roof of the main building is covered with patterned slate; a square frame cupola with bell tower and arched frame louvers is placed at the south end of the roof ridge line.
Text of historical marker:
St. John The Baptist Church
In 1868, the original Old Village Presbyterian Church, which stood on this location, was purchased by Charles A. Murphey. The property was donated to the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, and the church was named St. Patrick's. It became a mission of Church of Immaculate Conception in Elkton, Md. On the morning of December 25, 1880, the floor collapsed, and a decision was made to raze the church. While a new church was being built, Sunday Mass was held in the Newark Grange Hall. Because of the monies contributed by Father John A. Lyons and his family, the church was renamed in honor of his patron, St. John the Baptist. The cornerstone of the present building was laid on June 24, 1883, and construction was completed in December. In 1946 a major interior renovation was executed by the Philadelphia architects, Gleeson and Mulrooney. Building modifications included the installation of twelve memorial stained glass windows and a rose window at the south front facade. The belfry was altered after being struck by lightning in 1953. In July of 1991, a fire caused extensive damage to the front of the sanctuary. Due to the quick response of the Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Company, the structure was saved. The building is an excellent exampled of Romanesque Revival ecclesiastical architecture as interpreted by Newark builders.
Delaware Public Archives - 2002 NC-122
The church is in excellent condition and continues to serve as a parish church.