History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889, Part 15

Author: Camp, David Nelson, 1820-19l6
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New Britain, W. B. Thomson & company
Number of Pages: 622


USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Farmington > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 15
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 15
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 15


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His successor, Rev. Samuel Goodrich, son of Rev. Elizur Goodrich, D.D., of Durham, was installed May 29, 1811. He was sole pastor for twenty years, when in 1831 Rev. Ambrose Edson was installed as colleague. About three and a half years later, Nov. 11, 1834, on account of ill health, both pastors were dismissed. The following spring, or April 1, 1835, James M. Macdonald of Maine was ordained and installed. He was a young man not twenty-three years of age at the time, and two and a half years after was dismissed to take charge of the Second Congregational Church, New London. Rev. Joseph Whittlesey was installed May 8, 1833, but on account of failing health was dismissed Aug. 9, 1841.


Rev. W. W. Woodworth was ordained July 6, 1842. He was dismissed at his own request in May, 1852, to accept a call to the First Congregational Church in Waterbury. Rev. William DeLoss Love was installed Oct. 5, 1853, and dismissed Nov. 23, 1857. During the first year of his min- istry in Berlin, one hundred and fifty-five were added to the church on the confession of faith. The successors of Mr. Love were Rev. Robert E. Learned, installed Dec. 1, 1858, and dismissed March 5, 1861; Rev. Wilder Smith, installed


172


HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.


Jan. 15, 1862, and dismissed Nov. 5, 1866; Rev. Leavitt H. Hallock, installed July 18, 1867, and dismissed Feb. 5, 1873 ; and Rev. Jesse Brush, installed July 2, 1873, and dismissed Sept. 22, 1875. Rev. W. W. Woodworth, D.D., returned from the west, where he had been a successful pastor, and was installed Jan. 6, 1876. Dr. Woodworth had been absent nearly twenty-four years. During this time the church had five settled pastors, whose pastorates averaged less than four years each, and the longest of which was but five and a half years.


The house of worship was injured by fire, the work, it is supposed, of an incendiary, in 1848. The organ was destroyed, but the building was repaired and afterwards used as a school-house and town hall. The present church build- ing was dedicated in 1851. It is of wood, pleasantly situated on the west side of the principal street, and attractive in appearance. A new organ was presented to the church by William S. Brandegee in 1888.


The ministers of the Church in Berlin (Worthington Society ) have been as follows :


Rev. Nathan Fenn, settled May 3, 1780, died April 21, 1799.


Rev. Evan Johns, settled June 9, 1802, dismissed Feb. 13, 1811.


Rev. Samuel Goodrich, settled May 29, 1811, dismissed Nov. 11, 1834. Rev. Ambrose Edson,* settled June 15, 1831, dismissed Nov. 11, 1834. Rev. James M. Macdonald, D.D., settled April 1, 1835, dismissed Nov. 27, 1837.


Rev. Joseph Whittlesey, settled May 8, 1838, dismissed Aug. 9, 1841. Rev. Wm. W. Woodworth, settled July 6, 1842, dismissed April 26, 1852.


Rev. Wm. DeLoss Love, settled Oct. 5, 1853, dismissed Nov. 23, 1857. Rev. Robert C. Learned, settled Dec. 1, 1858, dismissed March 5, 1861.


Rev. Wilder Smith, settled Jan. 15, 1862, dismissed Nov. 5, 1866.


Rev. Leavitt H. Hallock, settled July 18, 1867, dismissed Feb. 5, 1873. Rev. Jesse Brush, settled July 2, 1873, dismissed Sept. 22, 1875. .


Rev. Wm. W. Woodworth, D.D., settled Jan. 6, 1876.


The membership of the church Jan. 1, 1889, was 299.


* Colleague pastor.


173


CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.


UNIONVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.


The people from Unionville, or Union District, Farming- ton, as it was termed, were, for many years, accustomed to attend church services at Farmington, or at West Avon. After the canal was opened the trip to the mother church at Farmington, for a portion of the year, was made by boat. Religious meetings had been held in Unionville for some, time, but the church was not organized until March 30, 1841, when George Richards, Eber N. Gibbs, Edward K. Hamilton, Eli D. Preston, William Bradley, and David B. Johnston, were associated together, forming the Congregational Church of Unionville. Twelve other persons were soon after added to the membership, and both the church and congregation continued to increase in numbers. The first house of worship was erected on the park, and in 1852 was removed and enlarged. . But the congregation becoming too large for this building, a handsome stone edifice was erected, which, with the organ, cost $44,000, and was dedicated May 27, 1886.


The church was gathered largely through the efforts of Rev. John R. Keep, who preached in the village in 1840 and 1841, and for some time after the church was organized and officers appointed. The pastors who succeeded him have been :


Rev. Richard Woodruff, installed June 30, 1842, dismissed May 13, 1846.


Rev. Jairus C. Searle, installed Sept. 6, 1848, dismissed April 15, 1851.


Rev. Giles M. Potter, installed Oct. 14, 1852, dismissed Oct. 29, 1856.


Rev. Hiram Slauson, installed Dec 9, 1857, dismissed Dec. 7, 1858.


Rev. Charles Brooks, installed Dec. 21, 1864, died June 11, 1866.'


Rev. Thomas E. Davies, installed May 12, 1869, dismissed Jan. 14, 1883.


Rev. Charles S. Lane, installed May 27, 1884, dismissed March 23, 1888. Rev. D. D. Marsh, installed Oct. 4, 1888.


The number of members of the church Jan. 1, 1889, was 237.


CHAPTER X.


BAPTIST, EPISCOPAL, METHODIST, ROMAN CATHOLIC, AND OTHER CHURCHES.


FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.


T HE first Baptist in New Britain, and the founder of the Baptist Society in this place, was Jeremiah H. Osgood, from Westfield parish, Middletown. About 1776 he was baptized in a pond made by obstructing the flow of the brook in the south part of Stanley Quarter. The next year his wife, Lydia Churchill Osgood, and Elijah Francis were baptized, and soon after several others, the immersions usually taking place at Churchill's mill pond. The little band, first known as " Separates," were accustomed to hold meetings at the house of Samuel Smith, in the south part of Stanley Quarter. As the number of persons increased, religious meetings were held in the school-houses at Stanley Quarter and East Street, and at the Hinsdale House on East Street. The First Baptist Church of New Britain was organized at the latter place on June 16, 1808. It comprised the following twenty members :


Thomas Booth, Jeremiah H. Osgood, Jerusha Weldon,


Lois Booth, Lydia Osgood, Oliver Weldon,


Mary Booth, John Osgood, Sally Weldon,


Anna Daniels, Mary Osgood,


Gideon Williams,


Elijah Francis, Moses Smith,


Daniel Wright,


Sarah Hinsdale, Rebecca R. Steele,


Rosanna Wright.


Sarah Hollister,


Betsey Warner,


For many years this church had no settled pastor, but there was occasional preaching in the school-houses, and at private houses. The ordinances were administered by minis- ters from other parishes. Rev. Enoch Green of Middletown,


175


BAPTIST, EPISCOPAL, AND OTHER CHURCHES.


for a number of years, visited the place regularly, monthly, or semi-monthly, holding religious services, and exercising some pastoral supervision until near the time of his death, in 1825. In the spring of 1828, Rev. Seth Higby became the first resident pastor. He continued his labors here for about a year and a half, during which time the first Baptist meet- ing-house was built. It was located at the foot of Dublin Hill, near the north end of Main Street. This was a small, plain building about 30 feet by 20. A few years later it was enlarged and its seating capacity increased, so that it served the society for public worship and other occasional meetings until 1842, when the second place of worship for this society was erected. This building, which was of wood, about 60 feet by 40 in size, was located near the site of the present church, at the corner of Main and West Main streets. It cost about five thousand dollars, and when erected and for some years after, well accommodated all who were accus- tomed to meet in it for worship; but the increase of the church and congregation the next twenty-five years made it necessary to provide additional room. This second church building was removed to East Main Street and converted into residences, and in 1869, on the site it had occupied, the present spacious and convenient brick edifice was erected. It is about 100 feet in length by 60 feet in breadth, and contains a commodious audience room, a chapel, ladies' par- lor, dining-room, and kitchen, with the necessary halls and ante-rooms. A new organ was provided, and the building was newly slated and otherwise improved in 1884. In 1887 the chapel was improved, re-seated, and its capacity en- larged.


The pastors settled over this society have been :


Rev. Seth Higby, 1828-1829 Rev. William P. Pattison, 1847-1850


Nathan E. Shailer, 1829-1832


Robert J. Wilson, 1851-1852


Amos D. Watrous, 1834-1836


E. P. Bond, 1852-1865


Matthew Bolles, 1838-1839


Wm. C. Walker, 1865-1871


Herman S. Havens, 1839-1841


J. V. Schofield, 1871-1876


Levi F. Barney,


1841-1846 George H. Miner, 1877-1884


Elisha Cushman, 1846-1847 I. F. Stidham, Ph. D., 1884.


176


HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.


The church has been prosperous, the number of members increasing from 20 in 1808, to 115 in 1837, 343 in 1870, and 550 in 1889.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


The first preaching in New Britain by a Methodist min- ister appears to have been in 1815. Rev. Henry Bass of North Carolina, while on a visit to this place that year, preached in the Osgood Hill school-house, and held meetings at private houses. The next year, Rev. William R. Jewett, an itinerant, held preaching services in the same school- house. For the next two years, religious meetings for those. sympathizing with Methodism were held in private houses, with the occasional presence of a preacher, or exhorter. In the absence of a preacher, Captain Oliver Weldon usually took the lead of these meetings. About 1818 Rev. David Miller conducted services for a time, and formed a class. Raphael Gilbert was appointed class leader May 6, 1820, exhorter February 18, 1821, and local preacher October 9, 1823. He became specially interested in building up this church, giving much of his time and attention to this work.


The first class included the following :


Phebe Bronson,


Patty Kilby,


Nancy Tryon,


Mary Eddy,


Oliver Newell,


Oliver Weldon,


Linas Gilbert, John Steele,


Sally Weldon,


Clarissa Gilbert, James Steele, Cecelia Weldon,


John R. Jewett,


Rena Steele, Marilla Weldon,


Hester Jewett, Esther Steele,


Daniel Kilby, William Steele,


Samuel Wilson.


On May 6, 1828, a lot of land four rods by ten, which had belonged to Nathan Booth and his descendants, after passing through several hands, was deeded to Raphael Gil- bert, in trust for the Methodist Church, and by him and his wife to Allen Judd, Ferdinand Hart, Samuel Richards, Moses Cook, and Linus Burwell, trustees of the Methodist Church in New Britain, with the following conditions :


"In trust that they shall erect or build a house or place of worship for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, according to the rules and discipline which from time to time


177


BAPTIST, EPISCOPAL, AND OTHER CHURCHES.


may be agreed upon and adopted by the ministers and preachers of the said church at their General Conference."


The site at the corner of Main and Walnut streets was an eligible one, and a plain house of worship was erected the same year that the deed was given. Though not finished until some years later, temporary seats were provided, and a quarterly meeting held in the building late in the year.


In the earlier history of this church, it was reported in different circuits. In 1821 it appears to have been on the Burlington circuit ; in 1822 on that of Wethersfield, and after- wards on other circuits. For some years its pastor also sup- plied some other parish, or more than one. In 1839, Farm- ington and New Britain had the same minister, and in 1840 and 1841, Berlin, Farmington, and New Britain were all sup- plied by one preacher. From about this time the church increased more rapidly, and the congregation became so large that this parish occupied the entire time of a minister. The church building erected in 1828 could not accommodate all who would attend service in it, and in 1854 it was moved from the site and a larger and more commodious structure was erected. This building was more attractive in appearance, and furnished ample accommodations for the congregation. In 1869 changes were made in its interior arrangements, which improved the principal audience room. A parsonage was also erected, at a cost of about forty-two hundred dollars. For many years after the first meeting- house was used, the seats were all free, but in 1848 they were rented, under the following rules :


" Rule 1. That we provide for members who are not able to pay.


2. That all rented pews shall be free at quarterly and evening meet- ings.


3. That the sexton shall have full liberty to seat people in all slips that are not full, as occasion requires, notwithstanding they have been rented."


In 1889 the church building was sold, a new site was secured on the east side of Main Street, and arrangements were made for erecting a more commodious edifice. During


178


HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.


the early history of the Methodist Church in New Britain, much self-denial was practiced by some of its members to secure the means for carrying forward the enterprise and providing for public worship. A debt which had been carried in part for many years was finally entirely removed in January, 1888. The membership of the church at that time was 430, and of the Sunday-school 450. The follow- ing is very nearly a correct list of the clergymen who have preached in this church regularly since 1823. For the first twenty years the preachers generally had other stations besides New Britain, preaching here only a part of the time :


Rev. Eli Barnett,


1823 Rev. David Miller,


1843-4


John Lucky


..


J. L. Morse,


1844


Smith Dayton, .


1824


S. W. Low,


1845


Wm. M. Willott,


66


W. McAllister, .


66


J. Z. Nichols, .


1825


John A. Edmonds,


1846


S. L. Stillman, .


66


Mathias E. Willey,


1847


Eli Deniston,


1826


Stephen Rushmore, . 1848-9


Theron Osborne,


1837


66 George W. Woodruff, 1850-51 B. Pillsbury, 1852


66 Wm. Lawrence, ·


1853


W. Wolcott,


1828


Otis Saxton,


1854-5


66


Raphael Gilbert,


1829


H. E. Glover,


1856-7


66


Timothy Benedict,


1830


W. H. Boole,


1858-9


66 L. A. Sanford, .


66


66 Arza Hill,


1860-1


66


Luman Andrews, John Nixon,


66


George L. Taylor,


1864-5


L. C. Cheeney, .


1831


66 F. H. Newhall,


1866


Davis Stocking,


1832


M. L. Scudder, .


1867


E. E. Griswold,


1833-4


L. W. Abbott, .


1868-9


66 Alva Stone,


1833


C. H. Buck,


1870-72


S. H. Clark,


1835 & 1838


R. H. Rush,


. 1873-5


C. W. Turner, .


1836


66 Geo. P. Mains,


1876-8


Charles C. Keyes,


1837


C. H. Buck,


1879-80


E. S. Cook,


1839


W. H. Wardell, D.D.,


1881-3


W. W. Brewer, .


. 1839-41


S. M. Hammond,


· 1884


A. S. Hill, .


. 1840-41


Geo. L. Thompson, . 1885-7


B. K. Reynolds,


·


1842


Joseph Pullman, D.D., 1888 --


·


·


1831-2


Joseph Smith,


1862-3


Ebenezer Washburn,


Valentine Buck,


1828-9


METHODIST CHURCH, BERLIN.


About the same time that the first distinctive Methodist preaching occurred in New Britain, or in the latter part


179


BAPTIST, EPISCOPAL, AND OTHER CHURCHES.


of the year 1815, Methodist meetings began to be held in Berlin by Rev. William R. Jewett, an itinerant, who preached both in this place and New Britain. A class of twelve or more persons was formed, and regular class meet- ings and preaching services were held. John R. Jewett, a member of the first Methodist class in New Britain, Rev. Smith Dayton, Rev. David Miller, and others, preached at different times. The first Methodist house of worship in Berlin was erected in the south part of Worthington village in 1830. This was occupied for several years, but in 1871 the society bought the building which had been occu- pied by the Universalists, remodeled it, and this has since been the place of worship for the Methodists of Berlin.


There had, for several years, been a number of Metho- dists in East Berlin, and meetings had occasionally been held there. In March, 1864, meetings began to be held in a hall regularly, and in May of the same year a Methodist class was formed. The number of members increased, and a chapel was built, which was dedicated in the spring of 1876.


KENSINGTON METHODIST CHURCH.


The few persons in Kensington who attended Methodist services were accustomed to go to New Britain or Worthing- ton, though occasional meetings, under the lead of the Metho- dists, were held in Kensington, either in private houses or school-houses, previous to the civil war. In 1858 a class of six persons was organized. Soon after the close of the war, or in 1865, the corner-stone of a house of worship was laid. The building was completed a few months later and dedicated, the Rev. William H. Wardell, D.D., later pre- siding elder of the New Haven district, preaching the dedica- tion sermon. The parish is not large, but has increased in numbers since the church was dedicated.


ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


For many years after New Britain was incorporated there were no communicants of the Episcopal Church residing


180


HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.


there. From 1825 to 1835, a few persons who preferred the Episcopal form of worship, and were communicants in the church, made New Britain their home. The first Episcopal service was held in the Academy building, Jan. 17, 1836, Rev. Silas Totten, D.D., of Trinity College, officiating. On April 17, 1836, Bishop Brownell held another service in the same place. St. Mark's Parish was organized Aug. 28, 1836, Rev. N. S. Wheaton presiding.


The following were the original members, or communi- cants, of this parish :


Mrs. Theresa Bassett, Mrs. N. Dickinson, Mrs. Emanuel Russell,


Solomon Churchill, Andrew G. Graham, Emeline Russell,


Mrs. George Francis, Mrs. L. P. Lee, Hezekiah Seymour.


The officers elected on the organization of the parish were :


Wardens, Lorenzo P. Lee and Ira E. Smith ; Vestrymen, Emanuel Russell, Frederick T. Stanley, Hezekiah Seymour, George Francis, Ralph Dickinson, and Cyrus Booth ; Clerk, Charles N. Stanley.


The first church building erected was a small wooden structure, situated on the north side of East Main Street, near the residence of Hon. George M. Landers. It was con- secrated Dec. 7, 1837, by the bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Brownell. This small building met the needs of the parish for a few years, but the addition of new members and the growth of the congregation soon made it necessary to have more room, and in 1848 the building was sold, and preparations were made for erecting a larger church edifice on West Main Street. A few years later the increase of communicants and the continued growth of the congrega- tion made enlargement desirable, and in 1859 quite an addi- tion was made to the building, and a chapel adjoining was erected. Alterations and improvements have since been made which have added to the convenience and attractive- ness of the building. The parish has a convenient parsonage adjoining the church.


Rev. N. S. Wheaton, D.D., officiated in the parish from its organization until April 16, 1837. He was succeeded by


181


BAPTIST, EPISCOPAL, AND OTHER CHURCHES.


Rev. Thomas Davis until June, 1838, when Rev. Z. H. Mans- field, and Rev. John Williams, D.D., the Assistant Bishop of the diocese, officiated until November, 1840.


Besides Rev. Silas Totten, D.D., and Bishop Brownell, who officiated at different times in the early history of the parish in 1836, the rectors and other officiating clergy- men have been :


Rev. N. S. Wheaton, D.D., officiating, June 19, 1836 - April 16, 1837.


" Thomas Davis, officiating, April 23, 1837 - June 1, 1838.


Z. H. Mansfield,


John Williams, D.D., S officiating, June, 1838-Nov., 1840.


John M. Guion, rector, Dec. 2, 1840 - Dec. 29, 1845.


Charles R. Fisher, officiating, Jan., 1846 - April, 1846.


Abner Jackson, officiating, April 19, 1846 - Dec. 23, 1848.


66 Alexander Capron, rector, Jan., 1849 - Easter, 1855.


Francis T. Russell, rector, May 6, 1855 - Jan. 3, 1864.


Leonidas B. Baldwin, rector, Aug. 31, 1864 - July 31, 1870. J. C. Middleton, rector, April 18, 1871 - Sept. 9, 1874.


John H. Drumm, rector, March 1, 1875 - March 31, 1877.


William E. Snowdon, rector, April 10, 1877 - May 1, 1880.


John Henry Rogers, * rector, Sept. 12, 1880-Jan. 23, 1886. James Stoddard, rector, April 1, 1886.


In 1836 there were but nine communicants; in 1862 there were 113, and in 1889 there were 361 communicants registered and 237 families in the parish.


ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.


There were few Roman Catholics in New Britain previous to 1840, and at that time there had been no regular religious instruction imparted by a Roman Catholic priest. Rev. Edward Murphy came to New Britain in 1841, and for a short time ministered to the few Roman Catholics residing here. In 1842, Rev. John Brady, of Hartford, took charge of the place, holding the first mass in a house which stood on the site of the Russell & Erwin screw factory. Twenty or twenty-five persons attended this mass. For eight or ten years masses were held in different private houses, princi- pally in William Cassidy's and Peter Skelley's. houses on Beaver Street.


Rev. John Henry Rogers died in office, Jan. 23, 1886.


182


HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.


In 1848, Rev. Luke Daly came here and took charge of the parish which then comprised New Britain, Farming- ton, Berlin, Bristol, Forestville, Collinsville, New Hartford, Simsbury, Tariffville, and Rainbow. There were, at that time, but twenty-five Roman Catholic families in New Britain. Mr. Daly gathered these together for instruction, and held regular religious services in such rooms as he could obtain. He made New Britain his permanent residence in 1849, and in 1850 began the erection, on Myrtle Street, of a plain but convenient church building. This was of brick, 84 feet in length by 45 feet in width. The church was com -. pleted in 1853, being dedicated August 11th by Rt. Rev. Ber- nard O'Reilly, D.D., Bishop of Connecticut and Rhode Island. In 1862, additions were made of a transept 75 feet long by 32 wide, and a chancel 42 feet by 30. These were dedicated by Rt. Rev. Francis P. McFarland, Oct. 11, 1863. In 1863 a bell was procured for the church, and later a sacristy, 40 feet by 20, was added to the rear of the church building.


In 1862 a school-house for the parish schools was erected on Myrtle Street near the church, and in 1877 the convent on Lafayette Street was commenced. The parish had largely increased in numbers before Rev. Luke Daly's death in 1878. He was succeeded by Rev. Hugh Carmody, D.D., who carried on the parish work so successfully begun by his predecessor. The convent was completed and occupied by the Sisters of Mercy. The parochial schools, which had for a few years been conducted as part of the public school sys- tem, were in September, 1879, opened as parish schools. The number of parishioners continued to increase, and Dr. Car- mody planned for a new church edifice. He purchased an eligible site on the west side of North Main Street, and ar- ranged with an architect for plans for the building, but was removed by death in 1883, before the structure was com- menced. His successor, Rev. Michael Tierney, took up the work and prosecuted it with vigor and success.


The lot purchased for the site of the new church has


183


BAPTIST, EPISCOPAL, AND OTHER CHURCHES.


three hundred feet front on Main Street, and extends through to Beaver Street. The church, which is of Gothic style and built of brown-stone, is 127 feet long and 80 feet wide. The main auditorium is 100 feet by 80, with a height of 60 feet from the floor to ceiling, and can seat fifteen hundred per- sons. The basement chapel has about the same capacity. The whole number of souls connected with this parish in 1889, is 7,070.


The Pastors of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church have been :


Rev. Luke Daly, 1848-died 1878.


Hugh Carmody, D.D., 1878, died 1883.


Michael Tierney, 1883.


In 1889, the assistants were :


Rev. John T. McMahon, Rev. Wm. H. Gibbons, and Rev. Wm. J. McGurk.


ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, UNIONVILLE.


The Roman Catholic parish of St. Mary's, New Britain, for some years included Farmington and Unionville, and Rev. Luke Daly, the pastor of the former place, had the oversight of Roman Catholics in the latter. About 1854, he inaugurated special Roman Catholic services at Unionville, and continued them with considerable regularity until Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer was assigned to the place in 1856. He was succeeded by Rev. John Fagan in 1861, who was recalled in 1868. He was followed by Rev. Lawrence Walsh, who was succeeded in 1870 by Rev. B. O'R. Sheridan. A large and attractive church edifice was dedicated in 1876. The parish numbers about six hundred souls.


Pastors of Roman Catholic Church at Unionville:


Rev. Luke Daly, 1854-1856. Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer, 1856-1861.


John Fagan, 1861-1868. Lawrence Walsh, 1868-1870. Rev. B. O'R. Sheridan, 1870-1876.


ST. PAUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, KENSINGTON.


There were few Roman Catholics in Kensington until after the war of 1861-65. On the revival of business, a number of families moved into the place, and with persons employed in and about the factories were sufficient to con- stitute a parish. A church building was erected in 1876.




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