The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-23
TIE NEW ST. FRANCIS DESALES CHURCH.
THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH.
ST. FRANCIS DESALES-AN IMPOS.
ING EDIFICE,

ST. FRANCIS DESALES-AN IMPOS-
ING EOIFICE,
Historical sketch of the ParIsh-The
New House of Worship-Amended
Description of the Building now In
Process of Erection.
Last winter we published the archi-
tect's description of the proposed new
church of the parish of ST. Francis De-
Sales. Since then, the active work of
the building has been commenced, and
the walls now stand with the water,
table on and the floor timbers of the
church and chapel laid. The Parochial
residence will be built next year, but is
shown, together with the church as
completed, in the illustration above, in
this issue of the BANNER. For several
weeks we have had this publication IN
view but haYe delayed it 80 that we
could present our readers with correct
ed description of the edifice and also
with an interesting historical sketch of
the parish-now printed for the first
time. In all respects we have endeav-
ored to give correctly the facts concern
ing this large, prosperous and growing
| congregation, and have been greatly
| assisted in 80 doing by the pastor of this
church, the Rev. John S. Michaud.
There has been little written and pub
llshed as vet of the local history Of the
Roman Catholic Church in this section.
The probabilities point towards the set
Element of families belonging to this
communion at an earlier date than is
popularity supposed. The first recorded
instance of the ministralions of priest
of that church in Bennington. is that of
Father Shanahan of Troy, N. Y, in 1884.
1t is not unlikely, however, that stray
families protesting the Catholic religion
may have become residents of the town
years before. With immigration from
Europe came the ministers of the Cath
oIic Church, and, following post roads,
at all important centers they established
missions and founded churches. The
advent of railroads and the demand for
men 10 build them prompted large EN-
igration from Ireland, which was accel-
Grated by the famine of 1857, 80 that
IN little time wherever there was a
railroad built or in process of construc-
ton, there the members of the Roman
Catholic communion formed communi-
ties and established their churches. 1t
will be recalled that the principal rail
roads of Vermont were built during the
decade ending with 1867.
At Bennington, however, the iron
mines had called together a large num-
Der of men prior to the railroad building
era hereabouts. Father Shanahan used
to come out and officiste for the benefit
of Catholics several years and up to the
year 1886. From 1885 to 1888 the Rev.
Jeremiah O'Callaghan of Burlington
succeeded him and attended to the wants
Of Catholic missions in the Western Yer
mont Valley. Both of these priests
travelled about ministering to remote
families and settlements in this
section until in 1888, when
the latter was followed by Father
Daley. This priest attended to the spir-
itual needs Of not only Bennington Cath
olics, but followed the various lines of
Vermont railways then building, up to
1854. If the record of these ministra-
tions could be written what labors in
heat and cold, what record of comfort
ing the sick and dying, and burying the
the dead, of this widely scattered flock,
would be uDfolded.
From 1854 the mission at Bennington
began to assume the importance of par
ish and local history records the organ
ization and building of St FrancisDeSales
} Church in 1866 by the Rev. z. Druon.
Frs. Druon and Cl.as. Boylan were
priests at Rutland, and both attended to
the needs Of the Bennington Church,
alternating as it would appear, until
January 1850, when the Rev. Jerome
, Cloarec was appointed and became the
first resident pastor. With this appoint
, ment a new era opened for this parish.
, Until now services had been held when
! ever it was convenient, in
, the above mentioned church.
This is the stone edifice at Bennington
Centre which has served this congrega-
ton since 1855, and which will be va
/ Gated on the completion of the fine edi-
flee now building on West Main street.
! An interesting event, connected with
the diocese, is not mentioned in the sec
} ular account of the organization of the
parish of st. Francis DeSales. The Ri.
. Rev. L. de Goesbriand was consecrated
bishop of Burlington, October 30, 1858
, During the month of December of the
same year he made his first visit to the
, mission here. AS result Of this vista
, ton the Rev. u. Druon was authorized
} to meet the people and induce them to
+ build a chapel. At that time some %
: Catholic families were found in the
: whole town of Bennington. From these
few, the three parishes of today have
} arisen.
The real estate acquired first consisted
Of the triangular plot on which the old
, stone church stands with the cemetery
. in the rear. Afterwards the ParochiaI
residence was purchased on School 81.
J The house is the one just north of the
Graded school premises and which was
moved from it's original site, by the
J present owner. About the year 1866
, this residence on School street was sold
and under the pastorate Of FIR. Ryan the
= present Parochial house was built. The
ample grounds about were also secured
J for church uses included the new GENE.
terry plot and the sites Of the Convent
! and Parochial school house. The latter
/ were built in 1866 under the direction
Of FIR. O'Dwyer, then pastor Of this
church.
1t will be seen by this that from the
: organization of the parish in 1855 there
| has been steady growth in material
t prosperity as well as in numerical
! strength, until now, with the compile.
, ton of the new edifices there will be nc
! finer church property In the State. Dur.
8 ing this time there have been seven pas
= tors Fathers Cloarec, Quinn. Ftz-
, gerald, Ryan, O'Dwyer, O'Sullivan, and
the present encumbent. The present
| membership is 1900.
] The raising Of funds towards building
: the new church began several years ago
r Two large Easter collections and several
2 annual fairs have enlarged the modest
] sum first raised to such promising ag
! gregate that work was begun last veal
/. and during the autumn the foundations
/, below the surface were laid. The open
! ing of early spring has greatly favored
the work Of construction. The mild
winter enabled the contractors to quarry
r stone so that more than one-half is al
8 ready out and greater part Of this il
= now on the ground.
= The building fund, we are requested
| to say, has been greatly enlarged by
] handsome subscriptions from many oil
] the business men Of the town and friend.
8 abroad, and for which grateful thanks
are hereby returned. These sums make
3 sure the imposing structure which was
: designed by Geo. H Guernsey architect
Of Montpelier, under whose direction
? the work is progressing.
3 The material is native-stone lined with
: brick. This is a blue lime stone which
! finishes white and cuts and carves to ex
! cellent advantage. Indeed, the builders
aav that in an extended pxDprianca IN