The Penn's Grove record., 1921-06-24
SINGLE COPIES, n
BISHOP TO DEDICATE
st. James Church. School and
Social Hall To Be Blessed
With Holy Water

Bishop Thomas J.. Walsh, of Tren-
ton, viii dedicate and bless with hoy
water st. James Roman Catholic
Church, on Beach Avenue, Peuns
Grove, on Sunday, and confirm q class
of en- ldren. Inc services Will begin
At 80 with Communion. Dedication
and Confirmation at Il o'clock.
The three story building was erect
ed during the summer and fall Of 1920
1t is OF night colored brick. The first
floor IS used for religious purposes.
The parish school began in the second
story January 3, 1920. About 275
children have attended and been
taught by nuns who live in a separate
house for them on the same lot facing
on State Street. The third floor Is
used for social meetings, festivals,
dances and moving pictures for enter
tainment and Church instructions.
The Church's Growth
Before the coming Of the powder
works there were few Roman Catho-
lies in Upper Penns Neck Township.
They occasionally attended Church IN
Salem or Woodstown. The first infu-
ential family was that Of jeremiah
Cream. He came in 1876 TO drive a
locomotive when the railroad was first
operated between Penns Grove and
Woodbury.. "Uncle'i Jere drove the
engine without an accident until he
vas retired by old age. All felt safe
when they knew "Uncle' Jere Was a.
the throttle.
Everybody had great confidence
when Uncle Jere was al the throttle
and was sure he would take them with
out mishap 10 Paradise and beyond
-Paulsboro.
When a thousand soldiers were
eamped n Sheble grove during the
summer Of 1898. there We're several
Catholics among them. Provision Wa
made for Rev. Walter Leahy. OF
S~wedesboro to come to Penns Grow
and say mass for them, for tn
time in the heme of Thomas I-H GA
Pitman Street. Turner'S Hall, on Har-
monv Street. was leased for services
during the tine the Second Pennsyl-
vania REGIMENT was here. Fenns
Grove was recognized a a branch q
WoodstoWn parish with Rev. John
Farrell as rector. Service was hela
twice 2 month at this mission.
On May !, 1901, the parish was IN
co~rporated with the title Of St. James
Roman Catholic Church, Penns Grove,
y. J.. jeremiah Cream and Daniel
Roche were trustees. 4 lot vas
bought with 100 feet front and l5U
feet deep on North Broad Street above
Flvin Avenue. Ground vas broken
August 26th and a building erected
at a cost Of S1448. Two services a
month were held by the priest who
lived at Woodstown, until the war
hoom came in 1914. The increase o.
members led to the use Of a hall IN
Carnevs Point until a chapel was built.
near the post office building, on
ground donated by the dupont Com
The First St. James Church on
North Broad Street was torn doWr
and carried away in pieces the past
winter. 1t having been made sacred
propertv by the sprinkling OF hoIy
water-water with salt in 1t, BY
Risbop-McFaul, at the dedication
i should not be used for unholy Secu'
lar purposes. -.
1919. when Bishop Walsh appointed
H. L. Massey to the par1sh. by nj!
earnest efforts the members were OF
gained, subscriptions made, a 10
bought and the three story building
erected on Beach Avenue.
The priests who at various time
were in charge of the parish are
=. Father Walter Lsahy and Fathe
Campbell until 1900; Father John
0FarrelI. 1908; Father James MOI
i rison. 19o3-O6; Father Carroll: 1906
) "a; Father 4. f. sculIy, 1914-15
Travers. 1868, and Rev. Hugh |
Massey, the present incumbent. H
. was assisted the past year by JOSEF.
Parker who left in April.