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 St.
Bartholomew Catholic Church was
founded in 1872 by Rev. Thomas J. McManus, with a membership of
sixty-five, nearly all of whom lived in Sharpsville and the immediate
vicinity. Father McManus was a very zealous priest, and labored for a
period of three years, when, through exposure in the discharge of his
duties, he contracted a sickness which ended in death. Rev. William
Coonan,
of Wheatland, then took charge of Sharpsville, in connection his own
congregation, and he was succeeded by Rev. Bernard
Lynch, also of
Wheatland. It was next placed under the late Rev. K. O’Branigan, of
Sharon, who assisted materially to reduce the debt during the few months
he had control. Rev. Patrick Cosgrove, of Wheatland, succeeded
Father
O’Brainigan and labored faithfully to build up the spiritual and
material interests of the congregation. In
1881 Rev. J. C. McEntee was appointed resident pastor of
St. Bartholomew, and remained as such five years, during which time he
did a great deal for his flock. He was succeeded by Rev.
Thomas J. Clark,
the present pastor [1888], who began his labors October 1, 1885.
The
first house of worship, a frame building of modest pretensions, was
erected during
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St. Bartholomew Catholic Church,
photographed in the 1920s.
Click to enlarge photograph.
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