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Jefferson
Township |
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All
Saints' Catholic Church |
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 All
Saints' Catholic Church, in Jefferson Township, about three
miles from Mercer, to the left of the road leading to Greenville, was
organized about 1838. At that time its principal members were John
and Ellen Jennings, William Jennings, Richard Jennings, Patrick
McCloskoy (a pioneer of 1796), William
Kane, William McKeever, John Griffin, Patrick Griffin, Thomas Connolly,
Daniel O’Connor, John Donahoe and others, some of whom were
among the first settlers of the county. The same year a small frame
church edifice was erected on land donated by one of the Jennings
family. It was used, likewise, for school purposes. James
Hanavan, one of the
pioneer teachers of the county, and a resident at present of Sharon,
taught there as early as 1843. This building, having undergone suitable
enlargements and improvements in 1855, answered the purposes of the
congregation for thirty years more.
In 1885 the present [1888] structure was erected at a cost of $12,000.
It is a commodious, ornamental and substantial brick structure, in
harmony with the most improved notions of church architecture. It, with
the extensive grounds surrounding, constitutes a valuable property. The
congregation has grown to be a large and influential one in the community.
It
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What the
Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, 1909 says about All Saints'
Catholic Church, click here |
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All Saints Cemetery Sign, click
to enlarge and see a view of the cemetery |
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has
been ministered to by Revs. Hugh Gallagher, John
Reed, M. J. Mitchell, C. M. Sheehan, Father Creeden, Arthur McConnell, J.
J. Gallagher, Patrick C. McGrath, William Pugh, Peter Brady, John
Donnelly and J. H. McAdam, the last being the present [1888]
pastor. All Saints is the pioneer Catholic congregation of the county, and
is in quite a flourishing condition. The present pastor has accomplished a
great deal since taking charge.
History
of Mercer County, 1888, pages 546-548- |
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