This church was consecrated on August 11, 1874 by Bishop Gibbons. Father Mark Gross was the first regular visitor to the parish, coming monthly from Wilmington. The parish was first named St. Mark’s in honor of this priest’s patron saint. The first resident pastor came to Newton Grove in 1899, with the arrival of Father Edward Meyer, O.S.B. The Benedictines were replaced in 1901, with a priest of the Vicariate Apostolic, Father Patrick Quinn. He was followed by Father Michael A. Irwin (1904), who saw the parish through a period of much growth and expansion, until he was transferred to New Bern in 1928. The Redemptorist Fathers came in 1928, and served the parish they re-named Holy Redeemer, until 1953. After the departure of the Redemptorist Fathers, diocesan priests returned, and the parish was re-named Our Lady of Guadalupe by Bishop Vincent Waters in January 1954.
This old, creaky floors Church has seen a lot of history. With continued celebration of Mass, it has a connection to eternity.
