St. Lawrence Martyr Parish was founded as a mission for St. Augustine Parish in Elkridge (would later become a mission church of St. Mary of the Mills).
The Church was built on an acre of land deeded by Susannah Merritt to Archbishop Spalding of the Baltimore Archdiocese. The dedication of the church was on September 23, 1866, in the area known as Jessup's Cut, which today is Jessup. Over two thousand people attended the dedication which was presided over by Archbishop Martin John Spalding.
The Church received independent parish status. The first resident pastor was Fr. Andrew J. Conlon. The rectory was located about a mile from the Church on seven acres of land until it was relocated in 1989 to its present site on Clark Road.
While Fr. John Mountain was the pastor, the sacristy was added to the rear of the church.
At this time, Fr. Thomas A. Farrell and his associate, Fr. George F. Cora, added the various prisons and correctional institutions in the Jessup area to the parish ministry. After Father E. Gerard Huesman became pastor in 1960, a religious education program was begun for the youth in the parish. It was first held at the Jessup Community Hall, then at St. Augustine's, and then the program was moved to a very old house purchased on a lot next to the church.
The Centennial of St. Lawrence was celebrated with an internal refurbishment of the Church and an Anniversary Mass celebrated by Cardinal Lawrence Shehan (plus a new organ had been purchased in 1962). Its own mission church was opened in 1967, which later became Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Laurel.
The Parish Center was completed, adding space for restrooms, a kitchen, religious education programs, and other parish activities.
The Trinitarians Fathers had established a community in the Jessup area in 1968 and had taken over prison ministry, since this was one of the traditional ministries of their Order. In 1978, Cardinal Shehan asked the Trinitarians to take over the parish of St. Lawrence, in addition to their prison apostolate. So, in 1978, Fr. Bernard Harding, O.SS.T., became the first Trinitarian pastor.
In 1991, while Fr. Bill Moorman was pastor, the Church celebrated its 125th anniversary with a ceremony that copied the original dedication, complete with a parade and nineteenth century costumes. Under his leadership, extensive restoring and remodeling was undertaken.
In September of 2010, Fr. Victor Scocco became Pastor, assisted by Fr. Binoy Akkalayil. As Pastor, Fr. Victor responded to people’s needs and has fostered much spiritual growth through a Life Teen youth ministry, Adult faith programs, International Nights, and a revitalized welcome ministry.
St. Lawrence began a Capital Campaign fundraiser to raise money to build a new Parish Complex that will be located across 295 in the new Parkside Community (formerly Blob's Park).
We hope that you have found or will find a faith-filled life and a welcoming community at St. Lawrence Martyr.
Do you have additional information or pictures regarding the history of Saint Lawrence? Or corrections to the information above?
Please contact Michael Levesque, Church Historian, with any information.