Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-08-23
Handsome New Church Dedicated.

The new st. Marys Catholic Church al
GAINESVILLE, which has been under con
struction since August of last year, is now
completed, and is one OF the handsomest edi.
fees built in this county for worship. The
estimated cost of the structure is $4,000 II
is situated in beautiful little grove oil
locust trees right in the center of the quaint
old town of GAINESVILLE. The building is
nearly on the spot of the old and memora
BILE place of worship, the old st. Mary's
Church, which was destroyed by fire in July,
1900, and which was built nearly century
ago, says Mr.. John William Brown, citi-
zen of that town who is now rs years old
Mr.. Brown says that when he was little
child st. Mary's Church was an old struc-
ture Of frame, about 30 feet wide by As feet
in length. About so years ago was added
an annex in the way of a sacristy, and this
quaint old landmark stood until July Ia,
1900, when it was accidentally destroyed by
fire.
The new edilce is built entirely of brick, is
3S feet in width, and 69 feet in length on the
square outside of the tower, which is 10 feet
square and n feet high. AT the western
corner of the church is sacristy which
measures 16x14 feet, and at the doorway at
the southern or eastern side of the church
is large basement, where will be installed
in the near future furnace and steam heat
ing appar atus
The interior of the church is beautiful.
The trimmings are of cypress, The pews
are OF oak. The windows are all memorial
and number five on each side and three in
the tower. Twelve OF them were given by
the following: P H. Clements, IN memory
Of his wife; James Ganey, Zach. M. Knott,
Mrs. G. + Kingsbury, another in memory
of Miss Sarah Elizabeth Jones, one in mem.
Dry of Rev. Thomas d. Leonard, former
pastor of this church, who recently died !;
one in memory of Rev. Joseph S. Birch,
another former pastor of the church, who
died number of years ago; one is gift of
the sewing society in honor of the present
pastor, Rev. Gilbert ii. Mcdonald; another
by William Reid and two others IN memory
of Aloysius and Sarah Reid and Lloyd and
Apn Jones
Two handsome statues, to the right and
left of the altar, in two alcoves built back
into wall, are the present of Rev. NJ. J q.
Rordan, pastor of this church for number of
years, and now pastor of st. Joseph Church
at Pikesville The chancel rail was gift
of St. Patrick's Church of Washington.
The architect was Henry l.. Simpson, of
Washington. VIM. T. Hilton Il Sons, of
GAINESVILLE, contractors and builders, are re-
cclving praise for the work done upon this
building.
The new building is monument to the
untring industry OF the pastor, Father Nc
Donald, who has been in charge only since
1900
Upward of 1000 people attended the dedi
cation of st. Mary's Catholic Church by
Bishop A A Curtis, of Baltimore, last Sun
day morning. The bishop preached the
dedcatory sermon Rev M. j. Riordan,
of st. Charles Church, Pikesville, celebrated
high mass, assisted by Rev. L. ID. Williams,
of Baltimore, as deacon; Rev. Philip Nc
Guire, of Washington, sub deacon; Rev.
John M. Barry, OF st Joseph's Church, Bal
timore, master of ceremonies. Other priests
in attendance were Rev. Martin Donohue,
of Baltimore; Rev p. G. Gavin, of Wash
ington, and Rev. Charles Gaffney, Of Fred.
erick After the dedication the bishop and
priests were entertained at the rectory and
the visitors in the hall by the ladies of the
church.