St. Francis de Sales Church
St. Francis de Sales Church
Catholic Church
with oldest continuing congregation
in District of Columbia
Congregation began about 1722, when Catholics first
attended mass at chapel within Queen family mansion,
on site approximately at present Everts Street, N.E.,
near 20th Street. Building came to be called Queen’s
Chapel. Destroyed by fire three times: in American
Revolution (date uncertain); War of 1812 (1814); and
Civil War (1862). Rebuilt each time; last time as
St. Francis De Sales Church (1908). Each new building
attended by members of congregation that had
attended at older building. St. Francis De Sales
Church moved to present site in 1927. Last
Queen’s Chapel building is now gone.
Marker is on Rhode Island Avenue, NE (U.S. 1) east of 20th Street, NE, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
