St. Alphonsus Church, Baltimore
Saint Alphonsus Church is a historic Roman Catholic church complex located in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The complex consists of the church, rectory, convent, and halle, and is also known as Saint John Neumann Shrine and "Baltimore's Powerhouse of Prayer." The church complex was constructed between 1842 and 1845 based on the design of Saint Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and follows a basilica floorplan. The structure is constructed of red brick with limestone accents in the Gothic Revival style.
The nave of Saint Alphonsus Church reaches a height of 50 ft (15 m), and the ornate steeple rises 210 ft (64 m) above the three-level bell tower. A 12 ft (3.7 m) gold cross caps the steeple, making it a prominent landmark in the area. The church was the first major design by Baltimore architect Robert Cary Long Jr.
From its founding until 1917, the parish was overseen by the Redemptorist Fathers, who came to Baltimore to minister to the growing German immigrant community. John Neumann, who later became Bishop of Philadelphia, was one of the early pastors of Saint Alphonsus. Neumann's assistant pastor, Francis Xavier Seelos, served as pastor after his departure and later worked in areas from Connecticut to Illinois and New Orleans. Both Neumann and Seelos have been canonized and beatified, respectively.
By 1917, many of the German immigrants who lived in the area moved elsewhere, and Saint Alphonsus became a parish for the Lithuanian immigrant community. The church complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Since 1992, Saint Alphonsus has held regular Tridentine Masses. Since 2017, the parish has been administered by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), while remaining officially part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Saint Alphonsus Church remains a significant landmark in the area, and its history is an important part of the city's cultural heritage.
The nave of Saint Alphonsus Church reaches a height of 50 ft (15 m), and the ornate steeple rises 210 ft (64 m) above the three-level bell tower. A 12 ft (3.7 m) gold cross caps the steeple, making it a prominent landmark in the area. The church was the first major design by Baltimore architect Robert Cary Long Jr.
From its founding until 1917, the parish was overseen by the Redemptorist Fathers, who came to Baltimore to minister to the growing German immigrant community. John Neumann, who later became Bishop of Philadelphia, was one of the early pastors of Saint Alphonsus. Neumann's assistant pastor, Francis Xavier Seelos, served as pastor after his departure and later worked in areas from Connecticut to Illinois and New Orleans. Both Neumann and Seelos have been canonized and beatified, respectively.
By 1917, many of the German immigrants who lived in the area moved elsewhere, and Saint Alphonsus became a parish for the Lithuanian immigrant community. The church complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Since 1992, Saint Alphonsus has held regular Tridentine Masses. Since 2017, the parish has been administered by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), while remaining officially part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Saint Alphonsus Church remains a significant landmark in the area, and its history is an important part of the city's cultural heritage.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Baltimore. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
St. Alphonsus Church on Map
Sight Name: St. Alphonsus Church
Sight Location: Baltimore, USA (See walking tours in Baltimore)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Baltimore, USA (See walking tours in Baltimore)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Baltimore, Maryland
Create Your Own Walk in Baltimore
Creating your own self-guided walk in Baltimore is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Baltimore Introduction Walking Tour
Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland. It is part of the Washington-Baltimore combined metropolitan area, making it a popular spot for those visitors who wish to see the city of Baltimore and the nation's capital. The city has a rich history in the founding of the United States.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Edgar Allan Poe’s Baltimore
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Poe moved to Baltimore for the first time in 1829 and left shortly thereafter. He returned in 1831 and wrote many poems and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.5 Km or 3.4 Miles
Poe moved to Baltimore for the first time in 1829 and left shortly thereafter. He returned in 1831 and wrote many poems and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.5 Km or 3.4 Miles
Baltimore's Architectural Jewels
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles