St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church was first organized in Palmyra back in 1849 by Father Edmund O'Connor of Canandaigua, NY who came by horse and buggy to Palmyra to hold Mass. The Bishop blessed the above church in 1861. Although the church was unfinished, the congregation attended Mass in it. It was completed and consecrated by Right Reverend Bernard McQuaid on October 23,1870. During 1903 the congregation added a belfry a vestibule and a bell was hung.
Next to the church is the rectory, where the Priest lives. To answer the big mystery question: Yes, there is a wine cellar in the basement of the rectory. We have had Priests living here that didn't know there was one.
Right now there is talk of closing St. Anne's. The Diocese would like to unite several Catholic Churches into one parish. St. Anne's is the Mother Catholic Church in this area. When she was founded there were no churches in Macedon, Newark, Shortsville, etc. We hope the Diocese reconsiders, now that we have a new Bishop, and saves St. Anne's.
10 comments:
What a beautiful church and rectory. I hope that you do not lose your church Marilyn. Our Diocese has been combining congregations for many years here. It is so hard to see. And no one likes change. It seems so rare these days to hear of a young man choosing the priesthood.
Good Morning Vickie,
Our Diocese has been combining congregations for many years, too. It is a sad thing to see. You are right, no one likes change. It is rare today that you hear of young men choosing the priesthood. Some of the Priests in our Diocese came from other countries. We are glad to have them, but local Priests are getting to be few and far between.
Marilyn
Good morning Marilyn,
So many churches are either closing or consolidating. For many of us the church is the building that we grew up in, when the church should be much more than that. Enjoy the day.
Tom The Backroads Traveller
Good Morning Tom,
You are right, Tom. It should be much more than just the building.
Hope you are enjoying Hawaii,
Marilyn
It's such a shame to see so many churches closing. My favorite are the small country churches. This one is just picture perfect.
My children went to our parish Catholic Elementary School, and there were 3 classes of each grade with about 30 children in each class (including pre-K). It was the largest Catholic school in the Western NY diocese. It was just announced that the school will be closing this year because the total enrollment is down to 135 students. I couldn't believe it. The church will remain open though.
It's very hard times for the Catholic community, but the Catholic Church has sure had their share of problems in the past 10 years.
Doreen
Hi Doreen,
Happy you liked the pictures.
I know the Catholic Elementary School I went to closed. Now they are talking about taking it down and making it a parking lot. The only reason the Catholic High School that I went to is still going is the Diocese doesn't own it - the Sisters do. One of the Sisters was really good at fiancé and business. When she became Mother General, she sold some property they didn't use and set it up so the Motherhouse and School would be provided for. Before she became Mother General she was my business teacher in school. She was sharp when it came to business and finance.
It has been a hard time for the Catholic Community and School.
Marilyn
is this church open? we have been looking to go to church,been in palmyra ny for 3 years now,
my e-mail is rockinrick57@aol.com
When was the rectory built? Was it built to be the rectory or was it a home purchased to be used as the rectory?
Hello Richard.
St. Anne's is still open. Mass is on Sunday at 8:15 in the morning. For Confession, it is at St. Patrick's church in Macedon.
Marilyn
Hello Maddi,
The rectory was built. The original rectory was between the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church. I am not sure when the new rectory- the one in the pictures was built. It was before I was born and that was 1948. The then Pastor was a wine collector so when he had the new rectory built he had a wine cellar but in the basement. Eventually, the Catholic Church took down the old rectory and sold part of the property to the Presbyterian Church. With the old rectory gone, both churches could enlarge their parking lots.
Marilyn
Post a Comment