St. Matthew’s Church gets a royal visit from a prince and a princess

In honor of St. Matthew’s 175th anniversary, Conshohocken local Jack Coll wrote a piece about a visit by a prince and a princess to the church. He was kind enough to allow us to share his article with you.

Grace Kelly was born in the East Falls section of Philadelphia in 1929 to a prominent Catholic family.  Her father, John B. Kelly Sr., was born to Irish immigrants. He won three Olympic gold medals for sculling.  Following her graduation from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1949, Grace moved to New York City, where she found work on stage and television.  Kelly went on to appear in movies with the biggest movie stars of the early 1950’s.  Kelly earned a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in John Ford’s “Mogambo”.  She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the drama “The Country Girl” (1954). Other works included “High Society,” co-starring with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, and “High Noon,” co-starring Gary Cooper.  She is remembered most for her three Alfred Hitchcock movies: “Dial M for Murder,” “Rear Window,” and “To Catch a Thief.” Grace retired from acting at 26, left Hollywood, and married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, beginning her duties as Princess of Monaco. 

On Thursday, December 11, 1958, the headline of the Conshohocken Recorder read:

“Grace, Prince ‘Incognito’ At Conshohocken”

The paper claimed, “Prince Rainier and Princess Grace attended Mass” on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, ‘incognito’. According to the newspaper:

Most of the parishioners at St. Matthew’s were unaware of the Royal couple’s presence until the end of the 10:15 A. M. mass.

The princess, the former Grace Kelly of East Falls and Hollywood, was described by those who saw her as looking “exquisite.”

One observer remarked: “I knew it was princess Grace when I saw the mink coat.” A man, who is not well versed in describing women’s attire, said: “I said, ‘Where could a coat like that come from around here?’ And I knew it was Grace Kelly.”

Women interviewed about the visit of the royal couple were ecstatic in describing the cost. Some said it was elaborate, others called it “gorgeous” and others sighed and said “ooh!”

Another woman was asked about the prince’s appearance. “Oh, my gosh! I really don’t know. I couldn’t get my eyes off that coat!”

The coat was described by a woman as being natural mink, medium in color, with an extra large shawl collar and full length.

Princess Grace was wearing her usual dark glasses and a white flowered bandana, tied under her chin.

It was believed the couple “stole” their way into Conshohocken to avoid the expected crowd at St. Bridget’s Church, East Falls, where the Kelly family are members. They were mobbed by hundreds Nov. 30 at St. Bridget’s when they attended mass with Mr. and Mrs. John B. Kelly, Grace’s parents.

The royal couple was accompanied at mass by Grace’s sister, Elizabeth Anne (Lizanne), wife of Donald Caldwell LeVine.

LeVine remained with his two small children, a boy and girl, in the 1957 Oldsmobile parked in front of the church. After mass, LeVine drove down Fayette St. and over the bridge to West Conshohocken, apparently on the way to the LeVine’s Gladwyne home.

It’s hard to believe that very few people noticed the princess with a full-length mink coat. At that time in 1958, it’s likely that Grace’s coat cost more than the average new car sitting in E. F. Moore’s Chevrolet dealership lot, once located at Twelfth Avenue and Fayette Street.

Long time Conshohocken Recorder newspaper receptionist Mary Sally had claimed that she had spotted Princess Grace twice attending mass at St. Matthew’s Church.

This is just one of many stories and highlights found in the St. Matthew’s Church archives, as the church and its parishioners proudly celebrate 175 years since its establishment in 1851.