HISTORY OF THE PARISH OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
SMITHS FALLS
A Highland Scot and a handful of Irish and French-Canadian pioneers met in the summer of 1829 in a settler's home for the celebration of the first Mass in the Smiths Falls area.
The Scot was Rev. John Macdonald who was sent to Perth as pastor by Bishop MacDonnell, first bishop of Kingston. This was only three years after Perth had its first resident priest. His parish comprised most of the County of Lanark and probably part of Leeds. It was largely a trackless forest at this time. Father Macdonald was a hardy, courageous man, and a devoted priest, who often carried the sacred vessels on his back along paths in the bush to bring the Mass to people in distant parts of his vast parish.
The Irish had been brought here by the shipload, directly from Ireland, to work on the Rideau Canal. The French-Canadians had come from Montreal for the same task. The work was hard; the men often laboured all day waist-deep in stagnant water. Malaria was common, medical care almost non-existent, the nearest hospital at Brockville inaccessible because of lack of roads. Many Irish and French-Canadian canal-workers lie in un-marked graves along the upper stretches of the Rideau Waterway.
These two groups were the foundation of the parish. The Irish had clung tenaciously to the Church through long centuries of suffering and privation. She alone had been their strength and comfort, keeping alive hope and a sense of their own dignity and worth. For two centuries French-Canadians had built their villages clustered about a small log church. The dark forests, the hostile natives, the fierce blizzards seemed less threatening when the villagers knelt together before the crude altar to offer to their Heavenly Father the same sacrifice in this new land that they had offered in the old.
Thus these first parishioners were willing to make any effort to establish a parish in their new home in Upper Canada. This parish still uses the name French Hill for part of the town between the Anglican Church and the river. It was so called because many of the French-Canadians bought lots and built homes there. Irish Creek and Irish Creek Road, now Jasper and Jasper Avenue, were named for the Irish who remained in that area.
It was in the home of one of these Irish settlers, Patrick Tierney, that the first Mass was celebrated in the summer of 1829 by Rev. John Macdonald. At that time there were about thirty Catholics in the area. The Tierney family was one of the few affluent families in the village. Patrick Tierney had a large farm home, Elmsley Hall, on the land where St. Francis hospital now stands. In the assessment records of 1856, he is listed as a merchant at three locations--Market and Main, Main and Beckwith and William and Beckwith. His son, Daniel Tierney, was one of the first councillors of the newly-incorporated village of Smiths Falls in 1854. They are often mentioned in the early church records as donating to various funds. In 1856, Patrick donated 50 pounds for the building of the church at Elgin.
In 1832, Father Macdonald had a small frame church (40 x 30) built. It is thought that this first church was on Church Street to the west of the present Presbyterian Church. The holy Sacrifice of the Mass was now offered three times a year. When Father Macdonald was appointed to the parish of St. Raphael's in Glengarry in 1838 by Bishop MacDonnell, he left in the community the nucleus of the parish of today. Names found in the baptismal records for the year 1833, which are preserved in Perth, reflect the Irish-French origin of the people. Some of these names are very familiar to us--McGuire. Kelly, Beckwith, Grenier, Cuseck, Deguere, Campeau, Bern, Bisonette, Kitley, Hogan, Noonan, Gilfoy1e, Monoghan, Kary. (These are the spellings used in the old register.)
The next pastor of Perth and Smiths Falls was Rev. J. H. McDonagh, appointed in 1838 by Rev. Dr. Goulin, bishop of Kingston. Mass was now offered four times a year by Father McDonagh and occasionally also by his assistant, Father Vaughan, on feasts. While Father McDonagh was pastor of Perth--a span of 28 years, the church and presbytery at Perth were built and the convent property acquired. During this time, three new parishes were established from former missions--Smiths Falls. Stanleyville, and Westport.
The first resident pastor of Smiths Falls, Rev. Philip O'Reilly, was appointed in 1846. Mass was said here once a month. Father O'Reilly's responsibilities included Kitley. The first church in Kitley is said to have been built at Bellamy's Lake. Until then, Mass was said in the homes of the parishioners, often in that of Mr. James Shanks, whose descendants are still faithful members of our congregation.
In 1848, Rev. Peter O'Connell was appointed to the parish by Most Rev. Dr. Phelan, bishop of Kingston. Mass was said in Smiths Falls on alternate Sundays and Holy Days.
Rev. Terence Smith succeeded Father O'Connell in 1851. A Presbytery was built on the present site, providing a residence for the priest for the first time. The present cemetery was acquired in 1853 and stone bought for a church. Mr. John McGill Chambers donated two large lots next to the presbytery for a church with the proviso that the parish build a good stone church. This offer was first made in 1848. A member of the congregation, Mr. George C. Mittelberger, wrote to the bishop recommending the acceptance of Mr. Chamber's offer and expressing his willingness to take a tour of Ontario and parts of the U.S.A. to raise a subscription to build the church. The bishop's reply is not in the records. Father Smith died in 1859. He was buried in the lot donated for the church. In 1860 - 61, the beautiful blue limestone building was erected above his grave. A memorial tablet in the new church paid tribute to the pastor who had not lived to see the result of his plans.
Rev. Michael Clune, fourth resident pastor, was appointed in 1860 by Dr. Horan, Bishop of Kingston. It was he who had the church built of the stone already procured. The cornerstone was laid in 1861 by Dr. Horan. The sermon for the occasion was preached by Rev. John O'Brien of Regiopolis College. Present on this occasion were Father McDonagh, Perth; Father Burns, Brockville; and a large crowd of townsfolk. The Rideau Gleaner, the town paper of the time, has an account and notes that the speaker, in thanking those who had donated, omitted mention of the many Protestants who had contributed. This omission was corrected on the following Sunday by Father Clune.
The Cemetery was blessed by the bishop in 1861. The Stations of the Cross were erected in 1866 by Dr. J. Chisholm, pastor of Perth acting as the bishop's delegate. The altars of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph were blessed in 1876 by Bishop O'Brien. The cost of the church is said to have been $20,000, financed by insuring twenty young men of the parish for $1,000 each. The parish paid the premiums and over the years, as the men died, the debt was paid.
Father Clune went to his duties in Kitley on horseback. For many years, a part of what is now Winnifred Street was called Clune Street. In 1874, Kitley was made a separate mission with Father W.J. Kielty in charge. Merrickville was detached from Kemptville and annexed to Smiths Falls in 1875.
Father Clune died in the House of Providence, Kingston in August, 1877. He was buried under the altar in the presence of the bishop and twenty priests of the diocese. He was 51, had been a priest for 21 years--18 of them in Smiths Falls. A memorial tablet was erected in the church, but was destroyed by the fire in 1948. The church is now the only memorial to him and to Father Smith--a fitting monument to these pastors who began the buildings which we use daily.
Father E.P. Roche followed Father Clune. A new main altar of beautiful white marble was consecrated 1n 1882 by Bishop Cleary. It had been donated by the heirs of Father Clune from his estate although he had not made the bequest. The bishop was accompanied on that occasion by his secretary, Father Thomas Kelly, later the pastor of the parish.
Confirmation was administered in 1850 and 1852 by Rt. Rev. Patrick Phelan and in 1862, 1864, 1867, 1870 by Bishop Horan to large groups of well over one hundred each time. In 1876, Bishop O'Brien confirmed a large group and 1885, Bishop Cleary confirmed 129 persons. At this visit the bishop made an extensive examination of the house, church, and grounds and found much repair work needed. He asked the men of the parish to replace the verandah and walks of the house, and to pay the taxes on the lot beside the presbytery next to the railway track as the corporation had the right to seize it for taxes. The pastor was a reserved man who refused to ask for money; he felt that parishioners should give without being asked. Thus the property was in bad repair.
One of the boys who was confirmed at this visit in 1885--Mr. James F. Delaney--was living in Florida in 1967. He was 95, but remembered the early days clearly and supplied much valuable information for this account. He had prepared for confirmation by learning the catechism very well, but remembered his embarrassment when the bishop asked him to recite a prayer he didn't know.
In March, 1886, Bishop Cleary appointed Rev. M.J. Stanton to the parish. Considerable expansion took place in his pastorate. Merrill was now detached and had its own pastor--Rev. John Kelly. Father Stanton was a capable and dynamic priest. One of his first tasks was the enlargement and repair of the parish house. He mobilized a group of men with horses and carts. They brought stone and built a fine stone fence along the front of the church property. Father Stanton had it finished with an ornamental iron fence along the top. A fine lawn with shrubbery was made around the house and church. He next undertook to find three doors for the three front entrances. He went to a large lumber dealer in Peterborough, and had the gift of inspiring others with his own enthusiasm to such a degree that the doors were made, fitted, and installed free of charge. These doors were replaced in 1939. The Church bell was installed in 1896. It was blessed in a very impressive ceremony by Bishop Cleary in February, 1896.
Some of his former altar boys remembered Father Stanton's interest in them. At High Mass on Sunday he liked to have twelve boys, all immaculate in white surplices and black soutanes. Father Stanton took a special interest in one of these boys, Charles Mea, a clever student with an inclination towards the priesthood. He took charge of his education, sent him to the University of Ottawa and to the seminary. Father was ordained with Rev. James Doyle from Dublin in St. Francis de Sales by Archbishop Gauthier in December, 1898.
Father Stanton also used the method of insuring young men to finance the expenses of some of the construction in the parish. In 1888, ten boys, all aged about fifteen, passed a strict medical examination and each was insured for $10,000 in favour of the parish. Mr. James Delaney was one of this group.
When the C.P.R. made Smiths Falls a terminal in 1886, Father Stanton was almost like an employment officer, so anxious was he to find good positions for his people. The parish expanded as a result of this new industry. The Catholic population for 1887 was 700. In that year, there were 37 baptisms; 10 marriages; and 9 interments reported in the parish records.
During Father Stanton's time, a fine choir was trained by Miss Mary O'Loughlin and Miss Shanks, later Mrs. Matthew Ryan. Concerts and plays were popular forms of entertainment in the parish. Many children were called Stanton in honour of the pastor. Mrs. James Shanks, when she heard that Father Stanton was being sent to Brockville, remarked that she regretted it as she always hoped he would prepare her for death. She became ill suddenly just before he left. Her funeral was the last service he performed in the parish. When he left Smiths Falls a special train took Father Stanton to Brockville. He was given gifts by the congregation and a coonskin hat by some Protestant friends. Before he left, he hired a double sleigh from Mr. Dennis Healey to visit these friends and thank them for the coat.
One of the older parishioners remembered being married in the vestry in winter, as on week days, only the vestry was heated by a stove. She said weddings were simpler then. The only people present were the bride and groom, their two attendants as witnesses and two or three others who were there as usual to hear daily Mass.
Father Stanton was replaced in February, 1899 by Rev. Thomas Kelly. Attached to a page in the parish register is a letter in the hand of Archbishop Hugh Gauthier appointing, in very warm terms, his beloved secretary, Rev. Thomas Kelly to the parish. On the page below this in Father Kelly's hand is his account of his appointment. He first read it on January 8 and entered the parish on February 1, 1899. He had been pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral, Kingston for 18 years. This parish presented him with a very moving farewell address and $500 as a token of their affection for this warm-hearted Irish priest, one of many sent so generously from the "old sod" to Canada.
Father Kelly's pastorate was to last 27 years--years of the growth of a close-knit parish life. Many stories and a bit of folklore have grown up about these years in St. Francis de Sales parish. Father Kelly came from the town of Waterford, Ireland, where he was ordained in June 1877. A member of a cultured family, he loved music, poetry, and good books. He made the parish house a hospitable home. His affection for children, especially sanctuary boys is legendary.
This seems to have been the golden age of parish life. Large and competent casts produced plays and concerts. The St. Patrick's Day Concert was a very special program. Every two weeks for years the parish conducted an evening of cards, dancing, and music. The second floor of the Town Hall was used for these entertainments, which were a source of revenue to the parish.
The first pipe organ was acquired in Father Kelly's time. Miss Clara Connolly trained an excellent mixed choir and some of the most beautiful music by great composers was heard at High Masses and Benediction. At Christmas and Easter, a special Mass was prepared and violin accompaniments were often played by Miss Augusta Sylvain, Mr. Morgan Sylvain, and Mr. John Naud.
On July 8, 1905, Rev. William B. Collins of Belleville was ordained in St. Francis de Sales Church by His Grace, Most Rev. C. H. Gauthier. In 1905, there were 42 baptisms, 8 marriages, and14 interments.
On October 28, 1906, Archbishop Gauthier administered the sacrament of Confirmation to 60 boys and girls and 3 adults on this pastoral visit, His Grace also erected the Stations of the Cross in the Sacristy. He announced that an assistant had been appointed for the parish. A committee of three, with a bookkeeper "to handle finances of the parish and to provide for all increased expenditure as well diminution of the debt" was appointed. His Grace also praised the "Ladies Hospital Association composed of non-Catholics as well as Catholics and invoked a blessing on them in behalf of the hospital."
end of Part One
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