GRAVEROBBERS RETURN THE DEAD REMAINS STOLEN FROM THEIR LEAD COFFINS IN 1992 AT ST. MARY’S CITY

The anxious souvenir seekers peer at the coffins as the sacriligious acts of grave robbing take place with the blessing of the government, and a
rogue bishop.

THE RINGLEADERS OF THE GRAVEROBBERS

GRAVEROBBERS RETURN THE DEAD REMAINS STOLEN FROM THEIR LEAD COFFINS IN 1992

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Historic St. Mary’s City will host the Ceremony of Return: Reinterment at the Brick Chapel.

This solemn and historic event will see the respectful return of individuals once buried at the chapel, including Philip Calvert, Anne Wolsey Calvert, and the infant son of Philip Calvert, alongside more than fifty others who were laid to rest there between 1634 and 1730.

People are encouraged to arrive at the HSMC State House between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. At 10:10 a.m., cannon fire from Maryland Dove will signal the start of the solemn half-mile procession from the State House to the Brick Chapel Exhibit, led by a horse-drawn hearse, heritage societies, and descendants of early Marylanders.

Please note: Seating will not be available inside the Brick Chapel Exhibit. The full program—including remarks, historical reflections, and the Rite of Reinterment performed by Archbishop William Lori—will be live-streamed in a tent just outside the chapel, where guests are encouraged to gather. A light reception will follow at the Margaret Brent Pavilion.

The event is free, but registration is strongly recommended: https://tinyurl.com/yc7h6evh