St. Mary's Church & Cemetery
St. Mary’s Church & Cemetery is perhaps one of Philadelphia’s most sought-after haunted locations. Explore its haunted history with US Ghost Adventures.
St. Mary’s is the second oldest Roman Catholic church after St. Joseph’s. Moreover, it played a vital role in the formation and history of Philadelphia. The church’s most popular years were during the colonial and Revolutionary War era.
But there’s more than the patriotic spirit permeating the church grounds—some say spirits of another kind dwell there, too. Explore the historical and the haunted on a ghost tour of Philadelphia with US Ghost Adventures.
A Revolutionary Past
While the Founding Fathers insisted on the separation of Church and State, they were also men of faith. Thus it was that St. Mary’s chapel was used as the first religious establishment to commemorate the Declaration of Independence.
Some of Philadelphia’s most famous and influential people would spend time praying in the pews of St. Mary’s. First President George Washington and later president John Adams were both regularly worshipers at the chapel.
The Most Famous Tombstones in Philadelphia
Besides its revolutionary history, St. Mary’s Cemetery is home to some of the most famous graves in Philadelphia. A few of the notable people buried here are:
- John Barry—Barry is known as the father of the United States Navy. He was also one of the earliest members of St. Mary’s Church and attended mass regularly. Not only did he develop the country’s first navy, but he was also a recognized fighter during the Revolutionary War.
- Thomas Fitzsimons—Fitzsimmons was one of the 39 signatures on the Constitution. He was also a noteworthy member of the Continental Congress.
- Mathew Carey—One of the most well-known publishers during his time, Carey was also a regular in the pews of St. Mary’s Church.
Encounters with Spirits
Given that so many people would flock to St. Mary’s for mass, it’s safe to say that the chapel is one of the most popular sites in Philadelphia. But not everything is as exciting as walking the ground once tread by the Founding Fathers.
Some locals and tourists claim to have seen some apparitions during their visit to St. Mary’s.
Most of the encounters happen at night and occur inside the cemetery. There haven’t been any reports that the spirits are hostile, and most people say they just see shadowy figures roaming around the church grounds.
Who are these ghosts, and what business have they at St. Mary’s? Find out on our ghost tour.
Haunted Philadelphia, PA
Whether it’s your first time in Philly or you’ve lived here all your life, there are endless ways to have fun in the City of Brotherly Love.
Our Philadelphia ghost tour takes you to some of the most haunted locations in the city, including St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery. Join US Ghost Adventures if you’re curious about the haunted side of a historical city.
About US Ghost Adventures
Since 2013, US Ghost Adventures has offered entertaining, historic, and authentic ghost tours of America’s most haunted cities. We deliver fun yet honest accounts of hauntings across the nation for curious people of all ages. Our ghost stories are based on historical research, but that doesn’t mean they won’t send a chill down your spine.
This video gives you a small taste of what you might experience on your ghost tour — subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more.
US Ghost Adventures also offers virtual tours, a self-guided mobile app, and an Alexa voice app.
