USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the diocese of Hartford > Part 47
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5. The marriage ceremony must be performed by the pastor of the parish in which the female party resides ; and baptism by the pastor of the parish in which the parents reside.
6. No collection shall be made in any parish without the permission of the pastor. These regulations are now in full force.
VERY REV. T. WALSH, Administrator.
PARISH OF THE ASSUMPTION,
ANSONIA.
A NSONIA enjoys the distinction of being the youngest town in New Haven county, having been separated from Derby in the spring of 1889. There is a well-grounded tradition that it was visited by priests soon after it became a village in 1845, as some Irish people were attracted here by the promise of employment on the public works. An- sonia remained in the relation of a mission to Birmingham until the pastorate of the Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer. It was attended successively by the Rev. James Lynch, the Rev. John Lynch, the Rev. John Sheridan and the Rev. P. J. O'Dwyer. In 1864 Father Sheridan conceived the design of erecting a church, and to that end purchased a piece of land on Atwater avenue. This project, however, did not mature, and the lot was sold. Nothing daunted, Father Sheridan, in 1866, secured from Phelps, Dodge & Co., the lot on which the old church stands, and generously donated it to the congregation. Encouraged by the possession of so eligible a site, his successor, Father O'Dwyer, resolutely entered upon the work of building a church. Bishop McFarland laid the corner-stone on August 15, 1867, when Rev. T. F. Hen- dricken preached the sermon. The church was dedicated in 1868. Its entire cost was nearly $20,000. On June 25, 1870, Father O'Dwyer severed his relations with Birmingham and became the first resident pastor of Ansonia, which now began a new epoch in its history. When Father O'Dwyer assumed charge of Ansonia he found 1,000 souls. His first work was the purchase of the house on Factory street which became his residence. Father O'Dwyer's term of service expired in January, 1876. He was followed by the Rev. Hugh T. Brady, who came here from Naugatuck. Among the achievements of Father Brady's pastorate were the enlargement of the church and the erec- tion of the present pastoral residence, and the introduction of the Sisters of Mercy from Meriden, who occupied the former rectory. In the spring of 1886, Father Brady retired from the active duties of the ministry, and
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
a few months later died in New York. He was buried in the West Ansonia cemetery .
His successor, the Rev. Joseph Synnott, became pastor on Holy Thurs- day, 1886. Father Synnott is signalizing his pastorate by the erection of one of the finest church edifices in New England. In August, 1888, he secured a beautiful site from Charles H. Hill on North Cliff street, paying there- for $25,000. A fine residence still stands on the premises, the home of the Sisters; two other buildings that adjoined were sold. On April 4, 1889, ground was broken for the new church. On Sunday, September 6, 1891, Very Rev. James Hughes, V.G., laid the corner-stone, assisted by Rev. M. Mulholland, of New Haven; Rev. P. M. Kennedy and Rev. T. F. Finn, of Birminghamn. The preacher on the occasion was the Rev. Walter Elliott, C.S.P., of New York. Work on the church is still in progress. The walls will be of granite, and will be more than 46 feet high. The lengthi of the building is 183 feet, the front width 96 feet and the rear widthi 138 feet. The tower will be 156 feet high. The seating capacity of the superstructure will be 1,200. The plans were drawn by Architect Keeley, of Brooklyn.
The assistant priests of the parish of the Assumption are the Rev. John Fleming and the Rev. John J. McLoughlin, D.D. The estimated population of the parish is 4,000 souls.
The first Catholic school in Ansonia was organized by the Rev. James Lynch in 1853. It was conducted in an old building that is now a Methodist church. Its duration was about seven years, and had as teachers a Mrs. Mor- gan, Michael McDonald and a Mr. Conway. The present school is conducted in the spacious convent and is attended by 52 boys and 75 girls, who are taught by six Sisters of Mercy. The sister Superior is Sister M. de Pazzi. The school is in a highly flourishing condition, and sends annually a class to the High School.
Ansonia has a congregation of Greek Uniats, whose pastor is the Rev. Anthony Bonczewsky.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH,
BRANFORD.
MONG the pioneers whose names have come down to us, who materially assisted in the up-building of the Catholic faith in Branford, we note Francis Harding, Edward Rice, Thomas Fitzgerald and Michael O' Brien, Michael Scanlan, John and Bartholomew O'Brien, David Sliney, Thomas Carter, Edward Mulvey, John O'Donnell, James, Thomas and John Carney and Daniel Driscoll. In the house of the first named was celebrated the first Mass said in Branford. Tradition has given the honor of this Mass to the Rev. John Sheridan of New Haven, and also places the year at 1851. In 1852 the priests serving in New Haven were the Rev. Edward J. O'Brien and the Rev. Bernard Tevin at St. Mary's, and the Rev. Matthew Hart at St. Patrick's. Father Hart, of New Haven, broke the
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
ground for the church which was completed in 1854 by Rev. John Lynch. At this time Branford was under the jurisdiction of Guilford, whose pastor was the Rev. John Lynod. About 1859 Branford became the residence of a pastor, the Rev. William Clarke, who attended Chester, Clinton, Guilford and Haddam. Father Clarke said Mass every third Sunday in Branford. Rev. James Bohen succeeded Father Clarke in 1861. On November 6, 1861, the Rev. Thomas Quinn succeeded Fatlier Clarke, and served until August, 1864; and in turn was followed by the Rev. James F. Campbell, who came here from Waterbury on February 18, 1865. Father Campbell enlarged the church. Father Campbell's pastorate terminated in September, 1869, and was followed by Rev. John Sheridan on October 3d, of the same year. The Rev. Thomas Mullen succeeded to the pastorate in October, 1873. The term of his administration closed on September 1, 1876, when the present rector, the Rev. Edward Martin, assumed charge of the parish. The Catho- lic population of Branford is about 1200 souls, principally Irish, with a few Poles and Hungarians.
The parish possesses two places of burial. The old cemetery, purchased and blessed in 1858, is in the northern part of the town and is nearly filled. The new cemetery purchased in 1889 for $2, 500 contains fourteen acres and is east of the village.
During the recent temporary pastorate of the Rev. Bonaventure Broder- ick, D. D., the parishi purchased a mnost eligible site upon which it is intended to erect a handsome church in the near future. From January 1, 1887, to the end of the decade there were 570 baptisms and 90 inarriages.
ST. MARY'S PARISH, DERBY.
HE original name of Derby was Paugasset. The first purchase of land made here was in 1653, followed in 1654 by a few settlements. In October, 1675, it received town privileges, as well as its present name. On March 17, 1775, there was born in Derby a child witli a familiar name, Keeney, to whom the parents gave the name of Ethel. Like many other towns of Connecticut, Derby received its quota of the hapless Acadians-four. They were, no doubt, the first Catholics here, but all trace of them has long since been lost. The earliest Catholic of whom anything is known to come to Derby (1760), was a Frenchman, Claude Bartheleme, who was made a prisoner at Fort Niagara. He married a Protestant lady, but his offspring were reared in the Catholic faith. The following letter, written to his brother in France, will throw some light on the history and religious character of this remarkable inan.
DERBY, IN THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT, AMERICA.
Sir and My Very Dear Brother :-.-.
This is to inform you of my very humble respects, and to inquire after the health of iny friends. I am still in good health, thanks be to God. I should inform you that, after quitting you to make a tour of France, I engaged in the Regiment Royal Rossilon in the year 1756. Some of us embarked for Canada. I continued in good health until
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
we arrived on the bars of Newfoundland ; there a malady broke out on board the vessel.
In 1757 we went to besiege Fort George, which surrendered after a siege of nine days, when we made eighteen scores of savages see the expediency of surrendering.
. In 1758 we gained a victory over the English, who were ten thousand men strong, · we having only three thousand men, who sustained for five hours by the clock a strong fire and conquered. In the year 1759, in the month of May, we set out for Niagara, near which 170 of us found a health-house .. After having been three months at Niag- ara, the English began the siege, and after sustaining it for twenty days we were obliged to surrender. Afterwards we were brought to New England, where I married a girl in 1762, by whom I had three children, two girls and one boy. I built me a house in which I dwelt, and afterwards another log house, in which I lived as well, thank God. In the year 1762 I learned to read and write English, and in 1768 I learned to write French. I desire to thank God that you may hear from me. Also, I thank God for His Holy Spirit and for the gift of His Son. This faith so pure, so full of joy to one who believes in Christ. . My dear brother, I entreat you to pray for me, a poor sinner, who is able to make to you his salutation.
(Signed) CLAUDIUS BARTHELEME.
Claudius Bartheleme died in 1824, faithful to the end, we may rest assured, to the Catholic faith. His descendants in Derby are for the most part Protestants.
The presence in Derby of other French people, and probably Catholics also, is evident from this entry taken from the old town records:
" Louis de Lamarquesie, son of Bernard de Lamarquesie, Esq'r.,-and major in the Continental service,-and Mary Anne de Lamarquesie, was born on the Ioth day of March, 1719."
A prominent Catholic, a convert, of early Derby, was the Rev. Calvin White, whose span of life reached from 1763 to 1853. In 1833 Irish Cath- olics began to settle in Derby ; in that year we find the sturdy names of John Phalen, William Quigley, William Foley, John O'Connor and Matthew Kel- lady. This little band was shortly after increased by Michael Stokes, George Wallace, Patrick Quinn, John Reynolds, John Ryan and Farrell Riley. In 1833 Father McDermot, of New Haven, visited Derby, and for the first time Mass was celebrated here in the "Old Point " house, which was situated near the site of the National Bank on Main street. Two of the persons injured by the falling of the gallery of Christ church, New Haven, 1834, were resi- dents of Derby. Derby continued to be served from New Haven by Father McDermot until his removal to Lowell in 1837. Occasionally Mass was said at the residence of Bernard Reilly on Hawkins street.
The next priest to visit Derby was the Rev. James Smyth, of New Haven, who attended this portion of his flock at regular intervals until 1847. It was during his term of service, 1845, that the first Catholic church in Derby was built, the spacious site having been donated by Anson G. Phelps. The dimensions of this church were 50 by 33 feet. The building was en- larged, first by the Rev. James Lynch, and secondly by the Rev. John Lynch. After the first enlargement the church was solemnly dedicated to God under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin, on May 2, 1852. The ceremony of dedication was performed by Bishop O'Reilly, after which a Solemn High
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
Mass was sung, the pastor, Rev. James Lynch, being the celebrant, Rev. M. O'Neil, deacon, and Rev. Christopher Moore, sub-deacon. Bishop O'Reilly preached the dedication sermon. After vespers the Bishop administered the sacrament of confirmation to 120 persons.
In 1847 the Rev. Michael O'Neil assumed jurisdiction, but after a sojourn of a few months took up his residence in Waterbury, retaining, however, charge of Derby. The number of Catholics had so increased that Derby was erected into a parish with the Rev. James Lynch as the first resident pastor, March 31, 1851. Father Lynch added to the lot donated by Mr. Phelps and purchased another piece of land with a house fromn John Cross in 1853. The four succeeding pastors ruled over St. Mary's parish as follows : Rev. John Lynch, November 1, 1857, to November 2, 1862; the Rev. John Sheridan, November 2, 1862, to December 31, 1866; the Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer from January 1, 1867, to June 25, 1870; the Rev. John Lynch (the second time) from June 25, 1870, to September of 1878. In 1870 Ansonia was separated from Derby and formed into a parish with Father O'Dwyer as the first pastor.
The successor of the Rev. John Lynch was the Rev. Peter M. Kennedy, who began his duties here on October 1, 1878. Among the works that marked his administration were the removal of the old rectory to College street, and the building on its site of the present fine pastoral residence; the erection of the church ; the purchase of the convent property; the introduc- tion of the Sisters of Mercy from Meriden (1885); the purchase of thirty-one acres of land for a cemetery and the erection in 1881 of the church at Milford, then a mission of Derby. Work on the present church was begun in March, 1882; the corner-stone was laid on June 25th of the same year, by Bishop McMahon ; and on the 21st of November, 1883, it was dedicated. Bishop O'Reilly, of Springfield, preached the sermon on this occasion. The seating capacity of the church is 1,058. The main altar is a masterpiece of work- manship, over 1,000 pieces of various stones entering into its construction. The tower is equipped with a fine bell.
The present rector, Rev. Charles McElroy, succeeded Father Kennedy on February 1, 1891. Conspicuous among his achievements in the interest of his parish are the renovation of the exterior of the church ; the remodeling of the convent and the grading of its surroundings; the improvement and enlargement of the cemetery ; the purchase of a lot adjacent to the church property ; the reduction in a very gratifiying degree of the indebtedness; the erection of a handsome parochial school.
The old or first cemetery was purchased by Farrel Riley from Joseph P. Smith on August 27, 1847, and transferred to Bishop O'Reilly on September 4, 1851. The lot was in the section of the town known as " Bare Plains." It was blessed in the fall of 1858. A child of Thomas Maher was interred here in December, 1847. This was the first burial of a Catholic in a Catlı- olic cemetery in Derby. A new tract of land was bought by Rev. John Lynch on August 9, 1861. It was consecrated by Bishop McFarland on January 12, 1864, during the pastorate of Father Sheridan. Mt. St. Peter's cemetery,
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
purchased by Father Kennedy, was blessed by Bishop McMahon on May 8, 1887, the Rev. Dr. Higgins, O. P., preaching the sermon.
When the first Mass was said in Derby in 1833 the number of Catholics was 28. When the church was built in 1845 the Catholic population was about 100. In 1890 it was estimated at 3,500, and in 1898 the number is 4,000, comprising many nationalities, viz .: Americans, Irish, Germans, French, Greeks, Poles, Slavonians, Hungarians, Bohemians, Italians and a few English.
The clergymen who have served St. Mary's parish as assistants are the following :
Rev. C. Duggett,
Rev. T. Shelly, Rev. J. Dolan,
Rev. P. G. McKenna,
Rev. M. Keane, Rev. M. Barry,
Rev. M. McAuley,
Rev. E. McGee, Rev. T. Finn,
Rev. Jas. Gleeson,
Rev. Jas. Nihil,
Rev. J. Fogarty.
Rev. Win. O'Brien, Rev. C. McGowan,
Prominent among the benefactors of the parish were Edward Shelton, Anson G. Phelps, Sheldon Bassett, Peter Phelps, F. Smith, Messrs. Canfield and Downs, and Messrs. Tomlinson and Smith.
The first Catholic marriage ceremony in Derby was performed about 1837. The contracting parties were George Wallace and Ann Reilly, the Rev. James Smyth officiating at the residence of Bernard Reilly on Hawkins street, between what is now Eightlı and Ninth streets.
A festival day for St. Mary's parish was December 8, 1895, the fiftieth anniversary of the erection of the first church. The golden jubilee was im- pressively celebrated in the presence of a large concourse of people. Bishop Tierney graced the occasion by his presence, and the Solemn High Mass, celebrated Coram Episcopo, was sung by the Rev. Henry Walsh of Plainville, assisted by the Rev. Thomas Coleman as deacon, and the Rev. John Fitz- gerald as sub-deacon. The jubilee oration was pronounced by Very Rev. Father Pardow, S.J. The sermon in the evening was delivered by the Rev. William Maher, D.D.
The first Catholic school in Derby was organized in 1852, and was taught by lay teachers. It was held in the basement of the church. The first teacher was Mr. Cain, whose terin began on June 14, 1852 and expired on February 6, 1854. Mr. Nicaloi then taught for a year and was followed by Miss Gossin, who began her duties on February 10, 1855. She was succeeded by Miss Rathbone in the spring of 1856. Mr. Michael McDonald was also a teacher in this school. The school closed after a career of five years. In September, 1885, after the introduction of the Sisters of Mercy, Rev. Father Kennedy opened a school in the basement of the church. It contained seven rooms and was attended by 350 children.
The corner-stone of the present fine school was laid on May 16, 1897, by Bishop Tierney. Right Rev. Mgr. Joseph Mooney, Vicar-General, New York City, delivered the discourse. On September 11, 1898, it was blessed by Bishop Tierney, the Rev. James H. O'Donnell preaching the sermon.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
The attendance is 225 boys and 219 girls; there are twelve Sisters, whose Superioress is Sister M. Columba. The members of St. Mary's parish are proud of their school and rejoice at the successes achieved by the pupils. It ranks among the first schools of Derby, which position it is the intention of the management to maintain.
ST. GEORGE'S PARISH,
GUILFORD.
HE first appearance of Catholicity in Guilford as an organized force, was in 1854, when priests from St. Patrick's parish, New Haven, ministered to the spiritual wants of the Catholic people here residing. The Adorable Sacrifice was first offered in that year in the presence of a few persons, in a stone house, at one time the residence of the Rev. Henry Whit- field.1 The occasional visits of priests were productive of good results. Desirous of possessing a chapel of their own, the little band purchased a store on Whitfield street in 1860. After being suitably remodeled, Mass was said in the new chapel for the first time on Sunday, March 4, 1860. In Janu- ary, 1861, there were seventy-five Catholics in Guilford, and of these, less than a dozen were children of Sunday-school age. The congregation con- tinued to worship in this chapel until 1876, when the Rev. Edward Martin, pastor of St. Mary's parish, Branford, erected the church on the corner of Whitfield and High streets. The corner-stone was laid on November 12, 1876, by Very Rev. James Lynch, Vicar-General, assisted by the Rev. P. Mullholland and the Rev. Father Rogers. The sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Lynch. Over 2,000 persons were present at this ceremony, 500 of whom were from New Haven. At the time of the completion of the church the Catholic population of Guilford had increased to about thirty families. The congregation of St. George's remained under the jurisdiction of Bran- ford until March 1, 1887, when the Rev. John Dolan was appointed the first resident pastor of Guilford and dependencies, Clinton,2 Madison, Leete's
' In connection with this house where Mass was first said in Guilford, the following will not be without interest :
"It is believed to be the oldest house now standing in the U. S. (1838). This build- ing was erected by the company who first settled the town, about the year 1640. The leader or head of the company was Henry Whitfield, a minister of the church of England, and one of the number of those who were called Non-Conformists. This house was built for him ; the stone of which the building is constructed was brought on hand barrows, from a ledge some considerable distance from the place where the house stands ; the cement used in building the walls is said now to be harder than the stone itself. The walls were plastered 15 or 20 years since. Mr. Whitfield and several others of the conl- pany who came to this place in 1639, returned to England in 1649. This house was used by the first settlers as a kind of fort for some time, to defend themselves against the hostile savages. The first marriage which took place in this town, was solemnized in this building. The supper which was provided for the occasion consisted of pork and beans " - Barber's Historical Collections.
" This entry is found in Bishop O'Reilly's journal : "October 16, 1851 : Sent Rev. Drac to Clinton, Connecticut, to open a mission there."
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
Island and Stony Creek. Father Dolan's pastorate was of short duration, as he died on July 3, 1888. He was buried in the new cemetery on the Durham turnpike, which had been consecrated a short time previous.
The Rev. James Smith succeeded Father Dolan on July 21, 1888. In 1890 the number of Catholic families in Guilford and inissions was estimated at sixty-seven, distributed as follows : In Guilford, 41; Madison, 7; Clinton, 5; Stony Creek, 5; Leete's Island, 9. In 1888 Mr. John Beattie built a hall at the latter place, where Mass is said for the accommodation of its residents as well as for those who attend from Stony Creek.
Father Smith's successor was the Rev. William J. Dullard, who received his appointment in August, 1893 ; after a successful administration of two years he was followed by the present pastor, the Rev. James Degnan, in September, 1895. A notable convert to the faith in Guilford in its early days was Mr. George Hill, who was an active auxiliary to the priests attend- ing this mission. To him belongs the honor of organizing the first Catholic Sunday-school in Guilford.
PARISH OF ST. ROSE OF LIMA,
MERIDEN.
HE first glimpse we. catch of Catholics in Meriden is in 1839; a few laborers, humble, unknown, men of brawn, but like their fellow- countrymen of that period whom emigration brought to our shores, men of faith and profoundly attached to the creed of St. Patrick.
A dilapidated barn, recalling the night when a multitude of angels filled the air with heavenly chant nineteen centuries ago, was the temple in which Mass was first celebrated in Meriden. The old structure stood on Holt's Hill, below South Colony street. The year was 1843 or 1844, and the celebrant the Rev. Father Smyth, who was on his way from New Haven. Mass was subsequently said in 1846 by Rev. Philip O' Reilly and Rev. Bernard Tevin. The latter offered the Adorable Sacrifice in the residence of Robert Clarke on Broad street. Among the pioneers who resided in Meriden at this period were James Connolly, John Flynn, James Collins, Robert Clarke, John Slane, Patrick and Jaines Carroll, John Cassidy, Bernard Brady, Patrick Reynolds, Michael Moran, Patrick and Francis Carlin, Frank Maloney, William Ha- garty, John McCaffrey, Thomas Fahey, Hugh McCauley, Thomas Hickey and John Mckinley.
Father Tevin was followed by the Rev. James Smyth, who secured the old Episcopal church which stood on the corner of Broad and Olive streets ; the price was $1,450. In two years, notwithstanding their small number, this indebtedness was liquidated. Mass was said in this building for nine years. On March 31, 1851, the Rev. Hugh O'Reilly became pastor of Meriden, with Wallingford, Cheshire and Soutliington as missions. During Father O'Reilly's pastorate Bigotry showed its hideous head on more than one occa- sion and at times when serious consequences might have resulted. Father O'Reilly purchased St. Patrick's cemetery on South Broad street, as well as
REV. JOHN H. CARROLL.
REV. MICHAEL F. RIGNEY.
REV. JOHN COONEY, P.R.
REV. JAMES P. DEGNAN.
REV. JAMES CUNNINGHAM.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
the land occupied by the cemetery and old church in Wallingford. Father O'Reilly had lodgings with James Lynn on High street.
His successor was the Rev. Thomas Quinn, whose pastorate began on June 4, 1854. In 1855 he organized the first Catholic school in Meriden. It was conducted in the basement of the church on the corner of Broad and Olive streets by Professor P. Smith. Among the pupils who began their edu- cation here is the present pastor of St. Edward's, parish, Stafford Springs, Rev. R. C. Gragan. Father Quinn about this time purchased the lot on Cen- ter street for the church which was in contemplation. The pastoral residence was the humble little building that stood south of the church for many years, and in which Very Rev. Thomas Walsh breathed his last.
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