Established in 1883
Our History
Early Beginnings
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church has a long, rich history in the Niagara Region.
It is one of five churches in the former town of Merritton, which consisted of a small area centred on
the Glendale and Merritt Street intersection and bounded by the old canal on one side and the CNR
railway tracks on the other. Merritton's founder, St. Catharines entrepreneur, William Hamilton Merritt,
built the first Welland Canal (1829), which became a catalyst for the development of manufacturing and
housing in the area, with service groups, athletic associations, and churches now serving as the major
forms of community organization.
Establishing the Parish
During the 1850s, the Catholic population increased more quickly than at any other time in its history,
both in the Niagara Peninsula and Ontario generally.
By 1860 there were five parish churches with
resident priests, and a year later, the Deanery of St. Catharines was established.
By 1875, Thorold,
Port Colborne, and Cayuga each added parishes, and by 1900, Smithville, Merritton, and Dunnville
followed this example.
The parish of St. Patrick's was established in 1883, but had its beginnings in Thorold. The Rev. M. McLaughlin became the first resident priest and ministered to Thorold and the Town of Merritton. Under the direction of the Rev. Fr. Sullivan from Holy Rosary Church in Thorold, the Merritton parish came into its own. St. Patrick's was named, of course, after the British-born Apostle of Ireland, Saint Patrick (c.385-461), who is credited with the conversion of the Irish despite their earlier persecution of him.
Parish Founders
The builders and first members of St. Patrick's were of Irish descent, the 1800s having seen a vast
influx of Irish immigrants into Canada. The Irish were followed by people of English and Scottish
extraction, and in turn by immigrants from southern and central Europe, especially Italy, Poland,
and the Ukraine. Under the guidance of Rev. F. Smyth, the present church of semi-gothic style was
opened on 20 September 1898. It was blessed by the Most Rev. John Walsh, Archbishop of Toronto.
The cost of the church was $18,000 and the debt was paid after only two years. Several years
beforehand, Dean Harris wrote these commendatory remarks:
"The people of Merritton are proverbial for their large-heartedness and attachment to their religion. There is no congregation of its size in Ontario that contributes more liberally for church purposes."
Parish Schools
Located a little to the west side of the present church was St. Joseph's school, built in 1888.
Prior to the construction of the school, classes were held in a one-room framed building, which
was built c. 1874 and included both church and school. A school annex was also erected. In 1957 at
the request of Fr. Kennedy, the Sisters of St. Joseph who originally came from Toronto, returned to
the school, having taught there between 1888 and 1916. In 1961, St. Patrick's school was built,
followed in 1970 by St. Theresa's school. 1968 saw the addition of a wing to the Church and the
construction of a new rectory.
Diocese of St Catharines
In the meantime, on 25 November 1958, Pope John XXIII established the Diocese of St. Catharines, of which St. Catherine is the patron; and St. Patrick's became integrated into the new Diocese of which it remains a vital member.
References:
Rev. Edward Jackman, o.p., Historian for the Diocese of St. Catharines, A Brief History of The Roman
Catholic Diocese of St. Catharines (St. Catharines, ON, 1982).
Dean Harris, The Catholic Church in the Niagara Penninsula. 1616-1895 (1895).
Read the original book here...
Links
St Patricks Pastors
A list of the Pastors of St Patrick's Parish from 1883 to today.