From the early 1700s, Catholic’s in Delaware’s lower counties attended Mass whenever possible in individual homes whenever Jesuit priests from Maryland would visit.
In 1808, with the established of the then-Diocese of Philadelphia, priests from New Castle would minister in Kent and Sussex Counties. Then, in 1870, after the Dioceses of Wilmington was erected and Holy Cross was founded in Dover, priests from the new parish cared for the Catholics down state.
The first masses were conducted in the Central Hotel as a courtesy of Frank H. Kramlich who owned the hotel at the time. There was a push to construct a Catholic church in 1896.
Under the care of the priests of Holy Cross and until 1909, a monthly Sunday Mass was said at various locations.
On December 8, 1909, Captain George Mahon donated land on Maple Avenue to construct a new church. The Reverend T.F. Waldron of Holy Cross Church was instrumental in obtaining funds to erect a church on the land and a contract to build was awarded on February 21, 1910, to Joseph T. Rogers.
The church was dedicated on June 26, 1910, with Father Waldron conducting regular mass at 7 PM. At 10:45 AM, a service of dedication was conducted by Bishop John J. Monaghan. The ceremony included a procession of priests, and the procession circled the grounds with the bishop in the lead. The land was blessed and the four corners of the building were also blessed.
A Pontifical blessing was conferred by Bishop Monaghan. The name St. John’s was chosen to honor the bishop. A sermon dedicating the church was delivered by Vicar General John A. Lyons. A solemn high mass was celebrated by the Reverend James L. McSweeney, assisted by Fathers Hanley and Dougherty.
An afternoon sermon was preached by the Reverend Father Hanley and a choir from Holy Cross Chruch furnished music. Between the two services, the bishop, priests and choir were entertained at a dinner in the Central Hotel.
On April 26, 1912, Bishop Monaghan deeded the property to the church. With the formation of Dover Air Force Base and an increase in industry in Milford, St. John’s congregation outgrew the church and facility. In 1952, on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Irwin G Burton, a new church was planned at the corner of Seabury Ave. and School Place. The Maple Avenue buildings were sold and new buildings erected on the Seabury Avenue lot where they still stand. On Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1954, the new church, St. John’s, was dedicated by Bishop FitzMaurice. At the time, John A. Corrigan was the pastor of the church.
A Hispanic ministry was established in the mid-1980’s to serve a growing population. Today, there are several hundred families in the parish’s Hispanic Community. In 1990, the parish began an “Oktoberfest” celebration as an annual fundraiser. It has grown into a community-wide event and attracts people from all over Kent and Sussex Counties. In 2005, a new Parish Hall was opened which expanded the opportunities for parish and family life at Saint John. And, as part of the Sustaining Hope for the Future Capital Campaign, plans were made for a new parish Rectory to be built adjacent to the church. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 2, 2017 and it was completed later in 2017.
At this time, Saint John the Apostle, together with Saint Bernadette, supports close to 1,400 families in lower Kent County and upper Sussex County and is served by two priests and four deacons.
