Michael Brooks
Maryland, a colony founded by English religious dissidents, was intended to be a place where any Christian could worship freely. Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony, but relatively few English Catholics made the journey across the Atlantic. The colony was named after Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I, and it was meant to be a refuge for English Catholics who had long been persecuted by their Protestant countrymen. The Maryland Toleration Act, passed in 1649, was a landmark bill that ensured religious freedom for all Christians, regardless of denomination. However, Catholics in Maryland later faced repression and discrimination, with the Toleration Act being revoked and Catholic worship being banned. Despite these challenges, Maryland is known as the one place in the colonies where Catholics could enjoy a degree of religious freedom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of founding | 1634 |
| Founder | Cecil Calvert, Second Lord Baltimore |
| Purpose | A place for Catholics to worship freely |
| Religious freedom | Catholics, Protestants, and other Christians were allowed to worship as they chose |
| Catholic appeal | The colony was a haven for Catholics, and the Act of Tolerance was passed |
| Naming | Named after Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I |
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What You'll Learn
Maryland was founded as a Catholic haven
England had been a Catholic nation until King Henry VIII's dispute with the Pope, which led to his excommunication and the creation of the Protestant Church of England. Despite this, some remained faithful Catholics, enduring imprisonment, execution, and various legal restrictions. George Calvert was one such Catholic, and he was forced to resign from his position as Minister of State to King James I.
Seeking a refuge for English Catholics, Calvert first attempted to establish a colony in Newfoundland, but this proved impractical due to the harsh winters and attacks from nearby Catholic French settlements. He then turned to Virginia, but this scheme was blocked by furious Protestant resistance. Undeterred, Calvert petitioned for a charter to start a colony north of Virginia, but he died in April 1632 before this could be granted.
A few months later, in June 1632, a charter for the Maryland Colony was granted to Calvert's son, Cecil Calvert, the Second Lord Baltimore. The colony was named 'Maryland' in honour of King Charles I's wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. The Calverts intended Maryland to be a place where Catholics could worship freely and live in peace with their Protestant neighbours. However, relatively few English Catholics made the journey to the colony, and Maryland ended up attracting more Protestant dissenters like Quakers and Puritans.
Despite the Calverts' assurances that they posed no threat to the Protestant colonies, tensions remained high. When word reached Maryland that King James II had been ousted, Protestants in the colony acted against the Catholic government, leading to Coode's Rebellion in 1689. The Catholic government found few supporters, and Lord Baltimore's men were forced to surrender. This marked a reversal for Maryland's Catholics, as a new Protestant governor passed a wave of repressive, anti-Catholic measures, banning Catholic worship and barring Catholics from voting.
Even before this, Catholics in Maryland had faced challenges. When King Charles II was restored to the throne, the power to govern Maryland was returned to Lord Cecil Calvert, and religious freedom was briefly restored. However, the Calvert family's support of King Charles put the colony at risk of attack by its Protestant neighbours, which occurred in 1645 under the leadership of Richard Ingle.
Despite these setbacks, Maryland is still honoured as a place where Catholics could live with comparative religious freedom in colonial America. The Maryland Toleration Act, passed in 1649, was a landmark bill that decreed all Christians were free to worship as they wished, as long as they believed in the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus Christ. This act inspired the growth of religious freedom and attracted more Catholics to Maryland than any of the other thirteen colonies.
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Religious freedom in Maryland
Maryland was founded as a refuge for English Catholics, who had long been persecuted by their Protestant countrymen. The colony was established by Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, in 1634. It was named after King Charles I's wife, Queen Henrietta Maria.
The Catholic founders of Maryland had hoped to create a place where they could escape the intolerance of the English monarchy and worship freely. However, relatively few English Catholics made the journey to the colony, and it ended up attracting more Protestant dissenters, such as Quakers and Puritans, who also sought religious freedom. As a result, Maryland became a religiously diverse colony, and the challenge became ensuring that people of different faiths could coexist peacefully.
In 1649, Maryland's assembly passed a landmark bill called the "Act Concerning Religion," also known as the Maryland Toleration Act or simply the Toleration Act. This act made it illegal for Marylanders to use derogatory religious terms for one another and decreed that all Christians were free to worship as they wished, as long as they believed in the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus Christ. The Act was truly groundbreaking, as it promised all Christians the free exercise of religion for the first time in English law.
However, religious freedom in Maryland was not stable. When word of James II's ouster reached the colony, Protestants rejoiced, while Catholics continued to support the Catholic monarch. John Coode, an Anglican minister and zealous anti-Catholic, led an armed force against the Catholic colonial government in Annapolis, forcing it to surrender in 1689. The Toleration Act was revoked, Catholic worship was banned, and Catholics were barred from voting. Catholics in Maryland did not regain religious freedom until the time of the American Revolution.
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The Act of Tolerance
Maryland has a unique history in the context of religious tolerance in the early days of the British North American colonies. The colony was founded by George Calvert, the first Baron Baltimore, who sought to create a haven for Catholic refugees facing persecution in England. Calvert, a Catholic himself, had previously served under King James I but resigned his post due to his religious beliefs. He then sought to establish a colony where Catholics and others facing religious persecution could find refuge. In 1632, his son, Cecilius Calvert, the second Baron Baltimore, secured a charter from King Charles I to establish the colony of Maryland.
The foundational document that shaped Maryland's policy of religious tolerance was the "Act Concerning Religion," more commonly known as the "Act of Toleration," passed in 1649. This legislation guaranteed freedom of worship for all Christians in the colony, making Maryland the first colony in the Western world to enact a statute providing for religious tolerance. The Act of Toleration ensured that no one could be persecuted or punished for their religious beliefs, as long as they did not deny the divinity of Jesus Christ or the Trinity, and it allowed for a degree of religious pluralism unseen in other colonies at the time.
The Act of Toleration had a significant impact on the development of Maryland and set a precedent for religious freedom in the region. It attracted a diverse range of settlers, including Catholics, Anglicans, Puritans, and Quakers, who were all able to practice their faiths without fear of persecution. The act also established a system of religious taxation, where citizens were required to pay taxes to support the Christian denomination of their choice. This system further encouraged religious diversity and tolerance, as it ensured that a variety of faiths received financial support.
However, the Act of Toleration did have its limitations. While it provided protection for Christians, it did not extend the same rights to atheists or those of non-Christian faiths. Additionally, the act was not always perfectly enforced, and there were instances of religious tension and conflict in the colony, particularly as the political landscape shifted and different factions gained influence. Nonetheless, the Act of Toleration remained in place for nearly four decades and laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and tolerant society.
The legacy of the Act of Toleration can be seen in Maryland's continued commitment to religious freedom and its role as a leader in the advancement of religious tolerance. While the act was eventually repealed in 1689 due to political changes and increasing tensions between Catholic and Protestant factions, it had a lasting impact on the colony's culture and values. Maryland's experience with religious diversity and its early commitment to tolerance played a significant role in shaping the religious freedoms enshrined in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
In conclusion, the Act of Toleration was a groundbreaking piece of legislation that shaped Maryland's founding as a Catholic colony and a haven for religious tolerance. Its enactment demonstrated a commitment to the ideals of religious freedom and pluralism, attracting a diverse range of settlers to the colony. While the act had its limitations and was not always perfectly upheld, it set a crucial precedent for the value of religious tolerance and contributed to Maryland's unique role in the history of religious freedom in the United States.
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Lord Baltimore's role
Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony by Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, in 1632. Cecil's father, George Calvert, had long wished to establish a colony in the mid-Atlantic area that would serve as a refuge for English Roman Catholics, who were facing rising religious persecution in England.
Upon George's death in 1632, King Charles I granted a charter to Cecil, allowing him to establish the colony of Maryland, named after King Charles' wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. Cecil, a Catholic himself, promoted religious tolerance in the colony, inviting both Catholic and Protestant families to settle in Maryland and allowing Catholics to practice their religion. He also established laws that ensured fair treatment for both religious groups and prohibited arguments between them about their beliefs.
Cecil Calvert's efforts to make Maryland a haven for Catholics were not without challenges. Protestants in neighbouring Virginia feared that the Catholics in Maryland would try to convert their Virginian Protestant neighbours or ally with other Catholic groups to overthrow the king's authority. To address these concerns, Cecil and his family published a paper titled "Objections Answered Touching Maryland," in which they assured their Protestant countrymen that they posed no threat and only sought to worship freely as Catholics while living in peace with their neighbours.
Despite these assurances, tensions between Catholics and Protestants in Maryland continued. In 1689, an Anglican minister and zealous anti-Catholic named John Coode led an armed force against the colonial capital of Annapolis, forcing Lord Baltimore's men to surrender. This event marked the end of Catholic control in Maryland, as a new Protestant governor was installed, and a wave of repressive, anti-Catholic religious and civil measures were enacted.
In conclusion, Lord Baltimore, Cecil Calvert, played a significant role in founding Maryland as a Catholic colony. He successfully obtained a charter from King Charles I, promoted religious tolerance, and established laws that reflected his vision of a colony where Catholics could worship freely and live harmoniously alongside Protestants. However, his efforts were ultimately undermined by rising anti-Catholic sentiments and political unrest in the region.
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Catholic worship in Maryland
Maryland was founded as a refuge for Catholics and people of minority faiths to enjoy religious freedom. However, the state faced opposition from its neighbouring colonies, and anti-Catholic prejudice plagued the state from its founding in 1634. Catholics in Maryland experienced persecution and discrimination, with laws prohibiting them from practising their religion and priests being barred from performing their functions. Despite these challenges, Maryland has a strong tradition of Catholic belief dating back to the early 1600s. The state attracted Catholics due to its reputation as a ""Catholic Haven" and the passage of the Act of Tolerance.
The early history of Catholic worship in Maryland was fraught with difficulty. Although the Brick Chapel, constructed in 1667, served as a focal point for the Catholic faith in the state, it was eventually dismantled due to anti-Catholic sentiment. Catholics in Maryland persevered, with Jesuit priests secretly celebrating Mass and performing sacraments in private homes, such as the Carroll family chapel in Annapolis.
After the Revolutionary War, public opinion shifted in favour of Maryland's Catholics as they supported the American cause while Anglican clergymen remained loyal to England. In 1776, the legal penalties against Catholics were lifted, and in 1788, Baltimore was established as a see by the pope, appointing Rev. John Carroll as its first bishop.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore, with its 153 parishes and missions, continues to play a significant role in Catholic worship in Maryland. It organises various activities, including summer camps like Camp GLOW, which combines faith, fun, and fellowship for campers. The Archdiocese also oversees Catholic schools that provide academic excellence and faith-based education.
The Charles Carroll House in Annapolis holds historical significance for Catholic worship in Maryland. For over 55 years, it served as a place of prayer, study, and formation for Redemptorists, a Catholic congregation. The house was visited by saints and bishops, and it played a crucial role in the establishment of St. Mary's School. The Carroll family's devotion to the Catholic faith contributed to the preservation and growth of Catholicism in Maryland during challenging times.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony. It was founded by Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, as a place for Catholics to worship freely.
Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony because of the predominantly anti-Catholic attitude of the English government and people. England had been a Catholic nation, but King Henry VIII denounced the Catholic Church and started his own Protestant church.
Maryland became a haven for Catholics, offering religious freedom and attracting the most Catholics of all the thirteen colonies. However, it also faced opposition from neighbouring Protestant colonies and experienced periods of anti-Catholic repression, such as the revocation of the Toleration Act and the banning of Catholic worship.
Yes, there were attempts to establish Catholic colonies in Newfoundland and Virginia before Maryland. The Newfoundland colony was attacked by nearby Catholic French settlers, and the Virginia colony scheme was blocked by furious resistance from Protestants.
