Matthew O’Keefe initiated permitting African American Catholics to sit in an assigned portion of the choir loft for their use only.

The present building was completed in 1858 and was rededicated under the title of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception in commemoration of the Marian dogma proclaimed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX.

After being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and undergoing an extensive renovation and restoration program, the edifice was rededicated on November 1, 1989.

In his announcement, the pope stated: "Your Black cultural heritage enriches the Church and makes her witness of universality more complete.

Despite the renovations in 1979, a litany of structural issues developed, with a 2015 inspection revealing massive rot and termite damage in the walls and roof.

During the project, workers discovered a series of crypts and tunnels under the church floor, the latter of which are speculated to have been involved with the Underground Railroad.

Father O'Keefe, the first pastor of the new St. Mary's (Norfolk) and Immaculate Conception (Towson), is buried beneath the altar of the latter.