Catholicism from Isle of Wight to America

The Ark & The Dove


American Catholicism …… founded from the Isle of Wight!


Headlines (like this) can often be misleading. However, there is certainly some truth in this unique story. Fr. Andrew White, a Jesuit missionary priest, who along with other Catholic priests, boarded a ship named the Ark at Gravesend, accompanied by its supply ship the Dove. The voyage to America was financed by the Catholic convert, Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore. The two ships stopped off in Cowes in 1633, (probably waiting for favourable weather).



They were carrying settlers from London to what would become the State of Maryland, named in honour of Our Lady and King Charles I’s Catholic wife, Henrietta Maria of France. After a difficult journey when they were at the mercy of the winds, they stopped briefly in Jamestown, Virginia, to consult with colonial authorities there and to resupply. Among the 300 or so people on board the two ships, there were many young men for whom America offered economic opportunities and freedom from political and religious persecution.


After crossing the Atlantic, the two ships moved north up the Chesapeake Bay, and landed on St. Clement’s Island, off the north shore of the Potomac River on 25th March, 1634 – most providentially, this was the Feast of the Annunciation. Hence, this marks the birth of the colony of the Province of Maryland. The anniversary of this historic event is now celebrated annually state-wide as Maryland Day. Fr. White had a large cross erected (artist’s impression below) before celebrating Mass. This was the first Mass in the original thirteen English colonies (artist’s impression below).



Cecil Calvert’s brother, Leonard, became the settlement’s first governor. As for Fr. White, after twenty two years ministry in Maryland, he was captured by Puritan colonists and subsequently returned to England in 1645. His requests to return to America were denied and he died in December, 1656. You can google Fr. Andrew White to find out more about this interesting story.


On 3rd October, 2024 an information board commemorating the voyages of the Ark and the Dove from Cowes to Maryland was unveiled on Cowes seafront. It was blessed by Fr. Jonathan Redvers Harris, parish priest of St. Thomas’s Church, Cowes. (See photo) commemorating the 350th anniversary of the sailing of the Ark and Dove on Cowes seafront).



After leading the Lord’s Prayer, Father recalled those who left these shores in 1633 in the two vessels. He then led prayers for the protection for all who sail from the Island in our own time and for all who today seek new economic opportunities and freedom from religious and political persecution.