New Britain herald., 1923-04-20
St. Mary!s Parish Nearing z5th
 Anniuersary- of Its Institution

would not pay the sisters teachers salaries.
 The accommodations In the old church on Myrtle street were not suf- i,cient for the number of Catholics worsh!pping there. and Dr. Carmody prevailed upon the church corpora ton to buy the Lee property on Main street near North Main for new parish site. The deeds for this were passed on May l2, 1882. The pastor however, never lived to see this work accomplished, for he died on April 23, 1883.
 Future Bishop Made Pastor.
 He was succeeded by Rev. Michael Ticrney, who came to New Britain In May, 1883. He was later destined to be made bishop of the diocese. He i'm mediatey commenced to fulfill the work started by Dr. CarmodY and plans for large edifice were drawn to be built on the site of the present church on Main street.
 The cornerstone was laid on June 2T, 1886, and the basement was fin- ished on September 8, 1889. but be- fore the entire structure was entirely built, Father Tierney was made bish- op of the diocese. His first official act was to consecrate the new tdifce as St. Mary's church on March 4, 1894. At this time also, the pur- chase of tract of land, begun by Father Tierney as pastor of St. Mary's parish, was consummated, and what is now known as tho new St. Mary's cemetery became the property of the parish.
 Bishop Appoints Father Harty..
 Bishop 1ierney appointed as his successor as pastor of the parish Rev. William A. Harty. Father Harty's first act was the erection of 8 par ochial residence on the south side of the church. This was started short ly after Father Harty's arrival here OH Sunday, March 24, 1894
 In the course of time, the parish house was erected and the affairs of the parish were in good condition, when on rainy right on January 22, 1902, a calamity struck the parish. Fire broke out in the church and the flames became uncomfortable. When morning dawned, the entire structure was mass of blackened ruins Dur ing the night. Father Harty, unmind- ful of himself, worked hard to save anything of value in the church.
 Services hereafter were held on Sundays in Hanna's armory on East Main street and on week days in the hall of the Y. M. T. A. x B. society. It is said, however, that the pastors heart was broken by the blow to the parish, and on March 5, of the same year, he passed away.
 Father Winters Made Pastor.
 On April &, 1902, Rev. John T. Winters arrived in New Britain to take up the work where Father Marty had left off. Faced with the great task of rebuilding the church, Father 1 Winters appealed to his people and set about the work with a strong and ca rnest courage. Work was started immediately, the chapel down stairs was compleaed and the edifice was dedicated by it's former pastor, Rt. Rev. Michael Tierney, on February s, 1903
 With the erection of the chapel, the quarters were deemed sufficient, and although work on the upstairs struc- ture was not discontinued, more time was given than would have been or dinarily. Attention was then turned to the need of a new school, and a site on Beaver street. where stands St. Mary's parochial school today, was selected. The cornerstone was laid on October IS, 1903, and the building was finished and dedicated on June A. 1904.
 Work of finishing the church was then started, and plans were finished on March 2S, 1904. At this time the Corbn Screw Co. made overtures for the purchase of the old property on Myrtle, High and Lafayette streets, with the result that it was sold for S42,500. This necessitated the pur- chase of new site for convent, and the Collins estate adjoining the church property Son the north was purchased.
 Convent and Church Dedicated.
 In 1907 ground was broken, and on February 2. 1904, both the convent and the finished church were dedicst- cd by Bishop Tierney. The services began at o'clock in the morning and lasted the entire day. Three bishops were present and 100 priests. This marked the biggest day for the par ishioners Of St. Mary's that has ever been witnessed.
 Today, the church stands as one Of the most beautiful edifices in the city and compares favorably with those in the state. The parish consists of church. spacious school. convent a parish house, two cemeteries and a large spacious playground for chill dren of all sects and creeds. The people of the parish number between 1000 and 5000. and form an import ant part in the government and life of the city.