USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the diocese of Hartford > Part 25
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
ordained in 1856. He served successively in Providence, Falls Village and Norwalk, where he died in 1862.
The Catholics of Hartford were again consoled and strengthened by the ministrations of their holy religion in 1827, when the Very Rev. John Power, D.D., of New York, who stopped at Hartford on his way to and from the canal at Enfield, whither he had been called to attend a sick laborer. "He said Mass in a house that stood opposite the head of Grove street," says the Hon. Mr. McManus, "in the rear from Main street and overlooking the old Centre church burying-ground. He baptized some children and visited several Catholics living at Wapping, on the east side of the river."
The year following the visit of Rev. Dr. Power, 1828, the Rev. R. D. Woodley was dispatched to Hartford by Bishop Fenwick, of Boston. He offered the Holy Sacrifice in the house of John Mulligan, which still stands, No. 34 Village street. Father Woodley informed Bishop Fenwick by letter that the gentleman who sold the church lot to Mr. Taylor, and which was afterwards conveyed to the Bishop in trust, could not give a good deed of the same ; con- sequently, it was relinquished and another purchased in a inore eligible loca- tion-a better lot in every respect. A satisfactory deed of this lot was made out and forwarded to Bishop Fenwick.
The close of 1828 saw Connecticut without a priest; Father Fitton was at Pleasant Point, Maine ; Father Woodley was at Providence, and Father Wiley at Boston.
On the 9th of July, 1829, Father Woodley paid another visit to Hartford, and proceeded to the Enfield canal. Notice of his arrival amongst them having become widely circulated, a large concourse of all denominations attended Mass on Sunday. He baptized several cliildren, admitted a consid- erable number to the Holy Communion, and the greater number received the sacrament of penance. He returned to Hartford on Monday, 12th, where lie baptized several children. He set out on the same day for New Haven and New London. From his report to Bishop Fenwick we glean that during these missionary visits Father Woodley baptized at Hartford, adults and children, twenty-five; at New Haven, two; and at New Lon- don, two.
Synchronous with the last visit of Father Woodley to Hartford, was that of Bishop Fenwick, who arrived on July 10, 1829, and took lodgings at the City Hotel. The chief object of his visit was to examine the old church of the Episcopalians, of which they were desirous of disposing, as their new church was nearly completed. The trustees asked $500 for the church and $400 for the organ. Having examined the church the bishop was pleased with it.1 He held conferences with Mr. Deodat Taylor, a convert, and with Mr. Samuel Tudor, a vestryman of the church. Bishop Fenwick urged the latter to donate the old churchi to the Catholics, but his overtures met with failure,
1 Bishop Brownell, the Protestant Episcopal bishop, was present when Bishop Fenwick was examining the church. In the course of the conversation, Bishop Brownell remarked : "Well, Bishop Fenwick, as we have a fine new church building we will let you have the old one." Bishop Fenwick retorted, "Yes, and you have a fine new religion, and we will keep the old one."
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
as Mr. Tudor, while well disposed to make the gift, respectfully informed the bishop that he was only one of inany concerned.
On July IIth, Bishop Fenwick approved of the Catholic Press, the first number of which appeared on that date. He wrote two articles for this issue, one in reply to an article in a Protestant journal of the same date, entitled Romanism in Connecticut. On Sunday, 12tl1, Bishop Fenwick offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the office of the Catholic Press, No. 204 Main Street, corner of Pearl, at which nearly all of the Catholics assisted, and preached on the gospel of the day. In the evening, at 6 o'clock, he repaired to the State House, which he rented for two dollars, and preached an elo- quent discourse on the forgetfulness of God as being the cause of man trans- gressing the law. The discourse produced a happy effect. It was delivered in the very apartment in which the celebrated Hartford convention was held.
Under date of July 13th, the bishop wrote in liis Journal: "The spirit of inquiry increases ; people enter warmly into the subject of religion. They come to the printing office every night to confer with the bishop. Splendid prospect for religion in Hartford."
During this sojourn in Hartford Bishop Fenwick was not altogether occu- pied in spiritual duties, and in completing arrangements for the purchase of the church. He found time to defend the church in the Catholic Press from sectarian attacks. From a editorial in the second number of that journal, July 18, 1829, we quote a paragraph which discloses the conciliatory attitude of the bishop :
"The editor of the Episcopal Watchman, in last Saturday's paper, seeins to be greatly disposed to pick a quarrel with us; but on our part we do assure him, that we are not inclined to any such business. Our views are altogether pacific. We wish, if possible, to live on good terms with all our neighbors, and especially with those of his communion. They have generally treated us kindly, and we shall endeavor to prove to them that their kindness has not been thrown away, and that we, too, can be kind."
On July 14th, the bishop was visited by the principal inen in town. He requested a town meeting, as he understood that no building could be moved without the consent of the selectmen. They granted the desired permission. This matter arranged, he authorized the Messrs. Taylor, Francis and Deodat, to purchase the church and the organ and whatever it contained, the bell only excepted, for $900. They were also to purchase a lot nearly opposite as a site for it, paying the price demanded, $1200. He also empowered them to engage a inan to inove the church to the lot designed. The bishop was informed that the Episcopalians would surrender the church in November, 1829.
The following letter, written forty-seven years after, throws additional light upon this historic cvent:
Chancellor Square, Utica, N. Y., Decbr. 3, '76.
RT. REV. DR. GALBERRY, O. S. A.
Venerated Bishop :- I do not know how to apologize for intruding upon you except my letter will plead my excuse. I read in the last Freeman's Journal an account of the dedica- tion of St. Patrick's magnificent church ; this recalled to my mind a circumstance that occurred in the fall of 1825 or '26-I do not cxactly remember which year-(it was 1829) when my late
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
husband, Mr. Nicholas Devereux, and myself spent a Sunday in Hartford. After breakfast a slip of paper was pushed under our door with " Mass at such a number and street." I was then an Episcopalian and attended my own church. In the evening Mr. Imlay, a banker, called, bringing with him a Mr. Ward (Col. James Ward), a Protestant gentleman of very liberal principles. After a while the conversation turned upon religion, and Mr. Devereux, whose first thought was always the church, declared how much he regretted the Catholics were not able to purchase a small Protestant church then for sale; but the Catholic priest, whose name, I think, was Fitton (Father O'Cavanagh), said it was impossible on account of the bigotry1 and also of waut of funds. The conversation ended by Mr. Ward offering to buy the church in his own name and convey it to the Catholics if Mr. Devereux would furnish the money. This was done, and afterwards the money was repaid. . ... I thought it might be pleasant for you to hear from one now living of the beginning of the church in Hartford.
With great respect, I remain, obediently yours,
MRS. N. DEVEREUX.
While in Hartford the bishop baptized several children, visited the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, the Insane Hospital and the Episcopalian College. He departed on July 15th, for Boston, having spent five days in the city laying the foundations of what fifteen years later was destined to be an Episco- pal See.
It was during this epoch-making visit that the impetus was given for the organization of the first Catholic Sunday-school in Hartford, and the first also in Connecticut. The following notice appeared in the first issue of the Catholic Press, July 11, 1829.
"CATHOLIC SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
" The Catholics of Hartford are informed that a Sunday-school will be opened next Sunday week (July Ioth) in the room of the Catholic Press, at 9 o'clock, A. M., and I o'clock, P. M. It is hoped parents will be careful in sending their children at the ap- pointed time as every care will be taken of their instruction."
As the Catholics of Hartford were soon to rejoice in the possession of a church, Bishop Fenwick gave them the additional happiness of a resident priest, the Rev. Bernard O'Cavanagh, who arrived in Hartford on August 26th, 1829, having been appointed pastor of the Catholic congregation of tliat city and missionary for the State of Connecticut in general. He was the first priest ever stationed within the limits of the present diocese of Hartford. Within the same territory in which Father O'Cavanagh exercised the sacred ministry alone seventy years ago, two hundred and sixty priests now minister to 250,000 souls. Father O'Cavanagh completed his theological studies at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, and was elevated to the priesthood in the cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, by Bishop Fenwick, on Sunday, July 19th, 1829. The young priest began almost immediately the visitation of his extensive parish. His first visit was to the Catholics on the Enfield Canal, where he baptized several children, and administered other sacraments, and received some generous contributions towards the liquidation of the debt contracted by the Catholics of Hartford for their church and lot. During his visit, Father O'Cavanagh was the guest of a Protestant gentleman of marked
1 The religious papers were very hostile to the Catholic religion.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
liberality of views, Colonel Norris, in whose hospitable mansion he also preached and offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
On September 5, 1829, the following notice appeared in The Catholic Press of Hartford :
" The Catholics of this city are informed that Mass will be celebrated on Sun- days in future, at 10 o'clock A.M., in the room on the third story of Mr. Ellsworth's building. Entrance, 3d door, corner of Main and Asylum streets. Confessions will be heard on Saturday afternoons in said room."
The work which chiefly engrossed the attention of Father O'Cavanagh was the transforming of the old Episcopal church into a house of Catholic worship. While this transformation was being accomplished, Mr. Daniel Barber of Claremont, N. H., an uncle of Bishop Tyler, thus wrote to the Catholic Press :
"It is singular to reflect on the difference between the spirit of former and the pre- sent time-the Episcopal church (church of England) in Hartford, was once destroyed by a mob at the head of which was a Col. T-t. Now a Catholic church is shooting upwards, with but little noise or opposition. I have lived seventy-three years, in the course of which many changes have taken place. Everything, indeed, but the Catholic faith is liable to change. The Protestant Episcopal church, of which I was a minister thirty-two years, has in that time so changed, that what was truth thirty years ago, ac- cording to their doctrine, is now false ! !! In my ordination, the bishop with his hands on my head, used these words, 'Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven ;' this was Protestant doctrine at that period ; but I find none among them who believe it at this day. "That your pious exertions together with those of your Catholic brethren in Hart- ford, may prove successful in chasing away that spiritual darkness, which has so long held its complete empire over the souls of men, is the inost sincere wish of your very de- voted servant. DANIEL BARBER."
Sept. 3d, 1829.
From the time of Father O'Cavanagh's arrival till the dedication of the renovated church, the Catholics attended divine services in Masonic Hall near the corner of Main and Asylum streets.
In June, 1830, the church was completed and ready for dedication. It was spacious, really beautiful, and situated on a fine lot in the centre of tlie town, on the corner of Main and Talcott streets. It was 68 feet in length and 48 feet in width ; had a fine organ, two sacristies, a spacious basement for a Sunday school and a variety of apartments. Moreover, it had ample accommodations for two clergymen, if necessary. The church was named " The Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity," ' and was solemnly dedi- cated to the service of one God in Three Divine Persons, on Thursday, June 17tl1, 1830, by Bishop Fenwick. The pastor, Rev. Father O'Cavanagli, was the celebrant of the Mass. The congregation filled the edifice and was coin- posed principally of Protestants. The newly organized choir sang Demontis' Grand Mass. A remarkable fact and one worthy of remembrance is that the organist on that occasion was a young girl of thirteen years of age. She not only played the organ, but sang the leading soprano parts during the entire service. She was assisted by her teacher and her sister, who was only one
1 It had formerly been " Christ's Church."
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
year older. She was engaged as organist by Father O'Cavanagh for one year at a salary of ninety dollars.
Bishop Fenwick preached the dedication sermon, selecting his text from the Book of Paralipomenon, seventh chapter and sixteenth verse : "I have chosen and sanctified this place, that my name may be there forever, and my eyes and my heart remain there perpetually."
The contributions amounted to thirty dollars. The dedication of this, the first Catholic church in Connecticut was a bright and happy event for the devoted children of the faith in Hartford. It was a harbinger of future bless- ings, a presage of other and still more precious favors from heaven. With mingled emotions of pleasure and delight did that heroic little band hail the event, and to us and to those who will take up our burdens, this day, June 17th, 1830, should ever remain a day of cherished and sacred memory. Com- menting on the dedication of the church, The Jesuit, in its issue of June 26, 1830, said: "From what we can learn, we have every reason to feel grateful to Providence for the rapid diffusion and unequivocal demonstration of liber- ality and truly Christian sentiments in that part of the diocese. The day, we trust, is fast approaching when even the local prejudices of sectarian bigotry will be dissolved by the glorious sun of civil and religious freedom."
The first marriage ceremonies performed by Father O'Cavanagh at Hart- ford are the following, copied from the marriage Record :
Hugh Woods " 1829, December 13th. Married Hugh Woods to Clarinda F.
and Taylor. Witnesses, Deodat Taylor and A. M. Tally.1
Clarinda F. Taylor. B. O'CAVANAGH."
Rob't O'Hara " 1829, Dec. 13th. Married Rob't O'Hara to Nancy McLane. and Witnesses, Ddt Taylor and A. M. Tally.
Nancy McLane.
B. O'CAVANAGH."
On Saturday, July 31, 1830, the Rev. James Fitton arrived at Hartford as assistant to Father O'Cavanagh.
Becoming dissatisfied with his situation at Hartford, Father O'Cavanagh frequently solicited his exeat from Bishop Fenwick. After giving the matter due consideration his request was granted, and permission to enter anotlier diocese was forwarded to him on October 27, 1831. On November 5, 1831, Bishop Fenwick received a letter, signed by fifty-four Catholics of Hartford, petitioning him to recall Father O'Cavanagh's exeat, and threatening, in case of a refusal, to re-establish him as pastor and withdraw all support from Father Fitton, his successor. The bishop returned a pacific answer, exhorting the petitioners to peace, union and charity, but refused to accede to their request.
Leaving Hartford, Father O'Cavanagh affiliated with the Diocese of Detroit, where, about 1832, he was attached to St. Anne's cathedral, his labors being chiefly among the English-speaking Catholics. He was after- wards received into the diocese of Cincinnati. On November 11, 1845, he was re-admitted into the diocese of Boston, having a short time previously
1 The editor of The Catholic Press.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
returned from Rome. He was assigned as an assistant to Rev. John D. Brady at Cabottville, Mass.
The writings of Father O'Cavanagh, some of which are extant, are evidence of broad scholarship. As a controversialist he probably had few superiors among the junior clergy of his time. By his published explanations of Catholic teachings no less than by his sermons did he dispel ignorance and remove prejudice. He was well versed in patristic lore, and his theological knowledge was an honor to the priesthood.
The successor of Father O'Cavanagh was the Rev. James Fitton (October 27, 1831), a classmate of the first bishop of Hartford, Right Rev. William Tyler, D.D. The three friends, Tyler, Fitton and Wiley, received minor orders on December 24, 1826; were ordained subdeacons on December 21, 1827, and deacons the day following. Messrs. Fitton and Wiley were ordained to the priesthood on December 23, 1827.1
When Father Fitton began his pastorate the number of Catholics in Hartford was still small. On June 19, 1832, he reported to Bishop Fenwick that he had in that year one hundred and twenty-six communicants. On July 29, 1832, Bishop Fenwick confirmed twenty-four persons, and, as far as the records show, this was the first time that confirmation was administered in Connecticut. It will not be without interest to place on record the names of the recipients.
MALES.
Deodat Augustine Taylor,
David B. Flower,
Ebenezer Griffin, Thomas Kelly,
James W. Sutton, James Henry Moore, John Thomas Rodden,
Peter Andrew Walsh.
FEMALES.
Mary Buckley,
Elizabeth A. Kelly,
Mary Monica Lesseur,
Juliana Carter,
Arathusa Rose McGuire,
Sarah Johnson,
Sarah Griffin,
Catharine Elizabeth Parsons.
Martha Agnes Johnson,
Sarah Ann McBride,
Mary Sarah Griffin,
Ellen Traynor,
Mary Ann Cleary,
Susan Cecilia Sutton,
Elizabeth Delia Kelly,
Juliana Kelly.
The malcontents were still fomenting discord. Bishop Fenwick remained in Hartford at this time ten days, during which he made an exhaustive exam- ination of the status of the parish and drew up a series of regulations which would govern the future relations of pastors and people. He promulgated these new regulations at a meeting of the entire congregation, Sunday even- ing, August 5, 1832, and caused a new committee to be appointed for tlie administration of temporal affairs. Discontent still continued, however, but the bishop, by the exercise of patience, and a conciliatory spirit, by firmness mingled with kindness and charity, overpowered all opposition ; so that on October 11th Father Fitton wrote, " All well at Hartford."
During his pastorate at Hartford, Father Fitton became involved in the
! This was the first ordination by Bishop Fenwick in Boston.
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
famous Hughes and Breckenridge religious controversy which at the time agitated the whole country. It had been alleged that "a young priest from some part of the Connecticut valley " had warned the people from the pulpit of St. Jolin's church, Philadelphia, against reading the controversy. This statement brought forth the following letter :
TO THE REV. JOHN HUGHES-
Rev. and Dear Sir : As I am the only "young priest of the Connecticut Valley" who has visited Philadelphia during the current year, I consider myself justified in calling upon Mr. Burtt for an explanation of the very mysterious statement relating to me, which appeared over his signature in the Catholic Herald of the 23d inst.
Referring to the IIth No. of the Herald, I find that the Rev. Mr. Breckenridge holds the following language : "I have been informed that Bishop Kenrick did, on the 17th of February last, in St. Mary's church (Philadelphia) publicly warn the people against reading the contro- versy." This misstatement having been corrected by the. Rt. Rev. Dr. Kenrick, was acknowl- edged by the Rev. Mr. Breckenridge in the 13th No. of the Herald, though he insisted, upon the authority of a respectable gentleman, that the hearing was given on " the day named " by a Roman Catholic priest. The very respectable informant of this mysterious affair is now reduced to a Miss M-, who, though educated among Catholics, mistook the "young priest of the Connecticut Valley " for a bishop, being informed he was such by "the audience of whom she made inquiry." So says the article of the 23d inst. Let me now, for the edification of the Rev. M. B., and for the information of Mr. Burtt and Lady M -- , observe that there was NO "Connecticut Valley Priest " in Philadelphia on the 17th February. I, on that day, was in the city of Washington, and offered up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in St. Patrick's church at half past eight o'clock A.M., and preached to a highly respectable audience under the pastoral care of the Very Rev. Mr. Matthews, in the afternoon of the same day. If this proves not the entire tale to be a forgery, it certainly reduces it to a paradox.
I remain respectfully yours, JAMES FITTON.
Hartford, Conn., May 27, 1833.
During his tour through various dioceses at this period Father Fitton collected $507.40 to liquidate part of the indebtedness of the church. Father Fitton had for assistants, first, the Rev. James McDermott, who received his appointment on September 15, 1832. He remained at Hartford until his transfer to New Haven in 1832. He was accepted by Bishop Fenwick on September 2, 1831. He received Minor Orders on February 24, 1832, and was ordained sub-deacon, deacon, and priest on August 16th, 17th and 19th, respectively, of the sanie year. The second was the Rev. Edward McCool, who had been received into the diocese on February 20, 1834, from Charleston, S. C. He was sent to Hartford on February 28th, but returned to Boston on May 3Ist of the same year, and received his exeat. The third was the Rev. Francis Kiernan, a native of the diocese of Ardagh, Ireland. He was received by Bishop Fenwick on October 3, 1832, and sent to Chamblay, France, to prosecute his studies. He received Minor Orders on December 21, 1833; sub-deaconship, May 21, 1834; deaconship, May 23d; on May 24th he was ordained to the priesthood. He was sent to Hartford on July 3, 1834, and returned to Boston on December 8th of the same year. Father Kiernan expired suddenly in Washington, D. C., on July 30, 1838.
The first marriage ceremony performed by Father Fitton at Hartford was the following :
"EDW. CASEY and \ 1830, Sept. 26. Married, Edward Casey to Ann Phalen. Witnesses, ANN PHALEN. J Corn'1 O'Brien and Margery O'Brien. JAMES FITTON."
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
The Rev. Peter W. Walsh, who had previously been attached to the cathedral of New York city, and whom Bishop Fenwick received on April 18, 1836, was appointed to Hartford on April 27th of this year, as successor to Father Fitton. Father Walsh reported the number of souls in Hartford as 350 in summer and 250 in winter; in New Britain and Farmington, 12; Tariffville, 24, and in Thompsonville, 20. On June 11, 1837, Bishop Fenwick administered confirmation to twenty-five persons. Father Walsh remained in Hartford until the appointment of his successor, the Rev. John Brady, August 5, 1837. Father Brady was ordained sub-deacon on July 25, 1833, deacon on the 26th, and priest on the 27th. On November 28, 1837, Bishop Fenwick defined the limits of Father Brady's mission to be the counties of Hartford, Middlesex, Litchfield in Connecticut, and the counties of Hampden and Berkshire in Massachusetts. His jurisdiction extended to Middletown and Portland on the south; on the west to the boundary line of New York; on the north into Massachusetts and Verinont. At intervals for many years Father Brady attended Springfield, Cabottville, Northampton, Middletown, Norfolk and other stations. In 1840 he purchased a lot on the east side of the church, upon which he erected a parochial residence. Father Brady displayed great activity in providing for the religious and secular edu- cation of the children of his charge. Among the tutors of his school was a Mr. Edward Gillen, whose proficiency as a musician had secured for him more than local fame. Leaving Hartford he went through the West as agent for Catholic publications. Reaching Notre Dame, Indiana, he entered the con- gregation of the Holy Cross, and in due time was ordained to the priesthood. During the war of the Rebellion he served as chaplain in the Army of the Potomnac. He died at an advanced age on October 20, 1882.
During his triumphant tour through the States the illustrious apostle of temperance, Rev. Theobald Matthew, visited Hartford, and for a week was the guest of Father Brady. The Hartford Catholic Temperance Society was organized, and it had the meritorious distinction of having on its roll of mem- bership the name of every inale Catholic in Hartford. To promote the social, intellectual and religious condition of the young men of his charge, Father Brady organized the Hibernian Institute, which flourished under his super- vision.
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