In 1704, Maryland Governor Seymour ordered the sheriff to lock the Roman Catholic brick chapel at St. Mary's City and see that it was never again used for worship.  With that action, the colony’s experiment in religious freedom ended.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, 305 years after the original chapel was sealed, St. Mary's County Sheriff Timothy Cameron unlocked the massive oak and pine doors of the reconstructed chapel.

“As I stood in the shadow of St. Mary’s Chapel, a monument to the birthplace of religious toleration, a monument to freedom and liberty of conscience, I realized I was walking in the footsteps of my predecessor, Sheriff John Coode Jr., the twenty-eighth Sheriff of St. Mary’s County,” said Cameron.

“In 1704, acting on orders from England through the Royal Governor of Maryland, Sheriff Coode locked the Chapel, as it was his job was to represent the interest of the Monarchy.  Over three centuries later, acting on behalf of the people, I unlocked the Chapel.  The Office of Sheriff has evolved from an arm of an empire into the people’s police,” he continued.

Cameron stated that It was an honor to participate in the unlocking of the Chapel.  “and it is a privileged to serve the citizens of St. Mary’s County as the 133rd elected Sheriff.”