St. Lawrence Martyr Parish was founded as a mission for St. Augustine Parish in Elkridge. In 1866, the Church was built on an acre of land deeded by Susannah Merritt to Archbishop Spaulding of the Baltimore Archdiocese.
The dedication of the church was on September 23, 1866, in the area knows as Jessup's Cut which today is Jessup. St. Lawrence Martyr remained a mission chapel from 1866 to 1921. In 1921, the Church received independent parish status. The first resident pastor was Rev. Andrew J. Conlon. The rectory was located about a mile from the Church on seven acres of land until it was relocated in 1989 to its present site on Clark Road.
From 1923 to 1939, Rev. George A. Speisburger was pastor followed by Fathers Paul L. Norris, John A. Mountain, George E. Shank, and Francis J. Kelley until 1956. At this time, Rev. Thomas A. Farrell and his associate George F. Corn added the various prisons and correctional institutions in the Jessup area to the parish ministry. After Father E. Gerard Houseman became pastor in 1960, a religious education program was begun for the youth in the parish. It was first held at the Jessup Community Hall, then at St. Augustine's, and then the program was moved to a very old house purchased on a lot next to the church.
In 1966, the Centennial of St. Lawrence was celebrated with the purchase of a new organ, an internal refurbishment of the Church, and an Anniversary Mass celebrated by Cardinal Lawrence Shehan. Its own mission church was opened in 1967, which later became Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Laurel.
Rev. Casmir Peterson became the new pastor in 1969. During his pastorship, he broke ground for a Parish Center, completed in 1972. Rev. Thomas Fannon took over as temporary administrator after Fr. Kinlein suffered a heart attack in 1972. Rev. Edward Bayer was appointed pastor from 1973 to 1977, and then Father Thomas Fannon returned as pastor from 1977 to 1978. During this time the interior of the Church was again refurbished.
The Trinitarians Fathers had established a community in the Jessup area in 1968. They had take over prison ministry since this was one of the traditional ministries of their Order. In 1978, Cardinal Shehan asked the Trinitarians to take over the parish of St. Lawrence, in addition to their prison tasks. So, in 1978, Fr. Bernard Harding, O.SS.T., became the first Trinitarian pastor. He retired in 1990 due to ill health, and Fr. Bill Moorman became pastor. In 1991, while he was pastor, the Church celebrated its 125th anniversary with a ceremony that copied the original dedication, complete with a parade and nineteenth century costumes. Under his leadership, extensive restoring and remodeling was undertaken. In 1994, Fr. Bill Axe became pastor, assisted by Fr. Stan Deboe. In 2006, Fr. John Dorn became pastor, assisted by Fr. Juan Vasquez Rubio, and in 2009, Fr. Juan Vasquez Rubio became the pastor.
In September of 2010, Fr. Victor Scocco became Pastor, assisted by Fr. Binoy Akkalayil. As Pastor, Fr. Victor responds to people's needs and has fostered much spiritual growth through a new Life Teen youth ministry, adult education discussions, RCIA classes, and Lent and Advent devotions.
We hope that you have found or will find a faith-filled life and a welcoming community at St. Lawrence Martyr.