CONOWINGO – Sept 1, 2018 – Over the Labor Day Weekend, St. Patrick’s Chapel marked the beginning of a yearlong celebration of the 200th anniversary of the chapel. In addition to mass, activities included a presentation on the history of the church, tours to discuss the renovation and restoration, and refreshments.
Irish Catholic immigrants who came to the area to build the canal on the Lower Susquehanna River and work in related industries, built the church, Dr. Bill Pare told the overflow audience, as he opened the day’s activities with a history presentation.
The Rev. Roger Smith, a priest from St. Ignatius Church in Hickory (Harford County), purchased a half acre plot from Daniel Glackin for a church and a burial ground, the Dialog reported. The first religious services were held that year. “The congregation consisted mostly of Irish immigrants working in the lumbering operations bordering the Susquehanna River and the canals on both sides of the Susquehanna.
On this Saturday, the sanctuary, which seats about 100 people, quickly filled, but there was additional room under a large tent outside where a live video feed streamed the mass to the overflow crowd.
St. Patrick’s Historical Association was created in 2004 to preserve and restore the quiet little church in remote northwestern Cecil County, a short distance below the Mason Dixon Line.
We were delighted to see the fine work the St. Patrick’s Historical Society is doing to preserve Cecil County’s heritage. Check out the organization’s website and Facebook page for more information on upcoming activities.
Thank you St. Patrick’s for a fine event and for the warm hospitality you extended to everyone. It was a great event.
“St. Patrick’s is the second oldest Catholic Church in Cecil County. The oldest is the Shrine of St. Francis Xavier in Warwick, dedicated in 1797,” the Dialog reported.
For an album of photos from the Saturday event marking the start of the bicentennial year, see this picuture album from Cecil County History on Facebook .
