Francis Patrick Kenrick (December 3, 1796 - July 8, 1863) was a bishop during the time of Orestes Brownson. He headed the Roman Catholic diocese (which later became an archdiocese) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1842 to 1851, then was elevated to Archbishop of Baltimore and served until his death.

Kenrick wanted to establish control and authority over the lay people in the Church. St. Mary’s Parish became a center of conflict with that goal. Kenrick told lay people they must stay within their boundaries and not try to control him and the Church. They refused, and he put the church under an interdict, which meant that no services could be held at it. That effectively shut it down.

After this, the first Church Synod ruled that all church deeds would be in the bishop’s name rather than in the names of the trustees. Kenrick ensured that the old ways of the church, those that were not democratic, stayed intact.