The Church of St. Andrew and her Missions
In 1822, mass was celebrated in the home of Henry O’Neill (from County Donegal, Ireland). This home still remains; a plaque marks the location of the first mass being said. A meeting was held with Thomas Dunn, Peter Doran, Henry O’Neill and John Lockary and a collection of thirty pounds was obtained to build a church.
“The original church was small and unpretentious. John Dunn, the Collector of the Town of St. Andrews, donated the land. The lot was situated on the corner of Parr and Mary Streets.”
“Construction began in 1824 and the interior was completed in 1825. It was twenty feet by forty feet in size. The contract for the first church paid Joshua Bradford and John McCurdy the sum of nine pounds, twelve shillings (thirty-six dollars) to frame and raise the building. Thomas Dunn, Henry O’Neill and Thomas Boyle, at their own expense, were to find and provide timber, and other necessary material and what rum or other refreshments, that may be wanted to raise the building. (A copy of this contract is preserved in the Parish Archives.)
St. Andrews Church c. 1840
The first baptism recorded in the church records was E. J. Carney- December 23, 1827.
The first marriage was celebrated on December 25, 1827 between Robert McEveney and Elizabeth Thompson. The witnesses were Cornelius Conley, Charles McKenna, Henry O’Neill and Bernard Sharkey. It is interesting to note that descendants of the O’Neill family and the Sharkey family are members of the congregation today.
The first interment was on March 25, 1825: Catherine Cavanagh. The cemetery (situated beside the church) was used from 1825 to 1859. Burials in the Town Limits were prohibited at that time. The St. Andrews Civic Trust restored this original Catholic Cemetery in 1977. The cemetery is maintained by the Church of St. Andrew. Below is a list of the people buried in the cemetery and where they are interred, when known.
Listing of those buried in the cemetery.
The first priest was Rev. John Cummins from County Carlow, Ireland. Irish born priests included Rev. R. Vereker, Rev. James Quinn, a native of Mooncoin, County Kilkenny and Rev. Edmund Doyle, Parish of Corrigan, County Kilkenny.
In 1903 part of the old church, was moved to King Street to be used as a Parish Hall and gymnasium. It was named Andreleo Hall (after Pope Leo XIII and St. Andrew the Patron Saint of the Church and the Town). It opened in 1904 and served the parish until 1913.
This structure can still be seen today by driving along Church Lane (located off King Street).
St. Andrews c. 1887
Rt. Rev. John Sweeney, D. D., Bishop of Saint John dedicated the Church of St. Andrew, Saturday, October 11, 1887. The cemetery is located on Route 127, outside the town limits.
Ten stained glass windows were installed after 1900. It is interesting to note the names honoured on these memorial windows: – O’Neill, Healy, Kennedy, Coakley, Bradley, and Mahar. A marble altar rail was installed in 1925, a gift of Lady Shaughnessay in memory of her husband Sir George Thomas Shaughnessay , former President of the C.P.R. They had a home in St. Andrews that they named Fort Tipperary. Thus the Irish connection to this parish continues.
Recent photo of St. Andrews Church by P.W.G. McMullon
The 1851 Census of Saint Andrews cited that 52 percent of the heads of household in St. Andrews were Irish born. Most of the Irish who remained in St. Andrews area were pre-famine. They contributed to the growth of the church and the town. Today the congregation still has members who can trace their ancestry back to these early settlers. The early clergy were Irish born, followed by many generations of priests of Irish ancestry. Names included: Cummins, vereker, Quinn, Doyle, O’Flaherty, O’Keefe, and O’Brien. There have been vocations from the Parish and these Irish families. They include: Most Rev. Timothy Casey, Rev. Patrick Bradley, Rev. Francis Bradley, Monsignor Francis O’Neill, Rev. Paul Scullin, and Rt. Rev. F.W. Lackary (St. Stephen) who was the granson of one of the original turstees of the first parish.
Several mission churches were built:
St. Patrick’s Church in Rollingdam, NB
“In 1842 a church was built at Whittier Ridge. In 1857 Rev. James Quinn directed that this church be taken apart and re-constructed in Rollingdam Station. In 1882 the church was taken down. It had been damaged by the Saxby Gale. All serviceable lumber was used and it was re-constructed in 1882.”4 It continued to be attached to the church of St. Andrew until the 1970’s.
Holy Angels Church in Flume Ridge, NB
This church was erected in 1885 during Father O’Flaherty’s time at the Church of St. Andrew. It was situated not far from the Magagdavic River, between Broackway & Sorrel Ridge. In 1864, Timothy Casey was born in Flume Ridge. He became the fourth bishop of Saint John and also the Archbishop of Vancouver in 1912.
St. Timothy’s Church on Campobello Island
St Timothy’s was constructed under the direction of Monsignor J. O’Flaherty in 1910. Mass had been celebrated in homes before the church was erected. It remained a mission church of the Church of St. Andrew until 1937.
Grand Manan Island
For a number of years the pastor from St. Andrews visited the island and celebratd mass.___________________________________________
[1] Saint John Globe – 11 Oct 1887
[2] Grant Hurley, The First Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery, a pamphlet, privately published. (no date)
[3] Saint John Globe – 11 Oct 1887
[4] Parish of St. Andrews – 1825 -1977 A Short History – D. S. Gillis
“After 60 years it became apparent that the church was in need of repairs and inadequate for the growing congregation. Rev. J. M. O’Flaherty was appointed in 1880. Land (160-square) was secured on the corner of King and Parr Streets. Plans were prepared by Mr. G. Ernest Fairweather of Saint John. The church is of wooden Gothic style and its tower and spire present a very attractive exterior. From the ground to the spire is one hundred feet. The ground space is 50 feet by 70 feet and the vestry is 17 feet by 28 feet. Over the front porch is a large 3-light window in the gable of the nave and on the King Street side is a richly ornamented pedestal and canopy (In 1902 Mr. Jules Thebaud of Paris, France donated a large statue of St. Andrew for this spot.) The ceiling of the aisles and nave are finished in wood paneling with cherry trimmings. The pews, wainscoting and sanctuary railing are of native ash, oil finished. The aisles are each 11 feet wide and the nave is 23 feet. There is an organ gallery above the main doorway. There are 56 pews and floor room for many more. Pews were made by Scott, Lawton & Love of Saint John.
“The church was built by Andrew Myles of Portland, Saint John and cost approximately $7,000. J.H. Pullen of Saint John did the painting; Levi Handy of St. Andrews the building of the foundation and plastering; Peter Carroll of St. Andrews the excavating .” The local paper described the project as “A monument to the zeal and industry of the indefatigable pastor, Father O’Flaherty”. 3
Ten stained glass windows were installed after 1900. It is interesting to note the names honoured on these memorial windows: – O’Neill, Healy, Kennedy, Coakley, Bradley, and Mahar. A marble altar rail was installed in 1925, a gift of Lady Shaughnessay in memory of her husband Sir George Thomas Shaughnessay , former President of the C.P.R. They had a home in St. Andrews that they named Fort Tipperary. Thus the Irish connection to this parish continues.
The 1851 Census of Saint Andrews cited that 52% of the heads of household in St. Andrews were Irish born. Most of the Irish who remained in St. Andrews area were pre famine. They contributed to the growth of the church and the town. Today the congregation still has members who can trace their ancestry back to these early settlers. The early clergy were Irish born, followed by many generations of priest of Irish ancestry. Names included: Cummins, Vereker, Quinn, Doyle, O’Flaherty, O’Keefe, and O’Brien. There have been vocations from the Parish from these Irish Families. They include: Most Rev. Timothy Casey, Rev. Patrick Bradley, Rev. Francis Bradley, Monsignor Francis O’Neill, Rev. Paul Scullin, Rt. Rev. F. W. Lockary (St. Stephen) who was the grandson of one of the original trustees of the first parish.
Several mission churches were built:
St. Patrick’s Church in Rollingdam, NB
“In 1842 a church was built at Whittier Ridge. In 1857 Rev. James Quinn directed that this church be taken apart and re-constructed in Rollingdam Station. In 1882 the church was taken down. It had been damaged by the Saxby Gale. All serviceable lumber was used and it was re-constructed in 1882. ”4 It continued to be attached to the church of St. Andrew until the 1970’s.
Holy Angels Church in Flume Ridge, NB
This church was erected in 1885 during Father O’Flaherty’s time at the Church of St. Andrew. It was situated not far from the Magagdavic River, between Broackway & Sorrel Ridge. In 1864, Timothy Casey was born in Flume Ridge. He became the fourth bishop of Saint John and also the Archbishop of Vancouver in 1912.
St. Timothy’s Church on Campobello Island
St Timothy’s was constructed under the direction of Monsignor J. O’Flaherty in 1910. Mass had been celebrated in homes before the church was erected. It remained a mission church of the Church of St. Andrew until 1937.
Grand Manan Island