Area Churches

St. James' Church Angelica

Angelica was the first place in Allegany County that assumed the importance of a settlement. The fine timber region, the prospects of water power from the Genesee, the possibility of water transportation, brought early settlers here.  The first comers were men of enterprise, and they made Angelica the county seat as soon as Allegany was formed from Genesee County.

There were probably a few Catholics among the early settlers with the Genesee Valley Canal was begun in 1837; hundreds of Irish and Germans and Scotch flocked to this region, and among these were many faithful sons of the Church.  The Rev. Bernard O'Reilly of Rochester, or the Rev. Charles Smith, of Buffalo, most probably visited the gangs along the works, and said Mass for them in their shanties; but no written word has been proved of visitation by these zealous shepherds. The first recorded visit is that of Rev. Thomas McEvoy, who came in 1840, and said Mass in the courthouse at Friendship. He visited the men along the line of the works periodically until he was removed from Java. He said Mass at McCassion's house in 1843, and in the court house in Angelica in 1844.  The Rev. J. Meyers came from Rochester several times in the following years. 

Greenwood, Steuben County, was the first place in this region to obtain and resident pastor, and from there the priest visited the many little hamlets in Allegany County, and about one-half of Steuben County. The Rev. T. McEvoy, an energetic apostolic missionary, built the church at Greenwood in 1845; and was succeeded by the Rev. Michael O'Brien who remained there until 1848 when he removed to Hornellsville.  From Hornellsville Father O'Brien came to Angelica once a month and said Mass in the courthouse or in the home of John Crosby.

Protestants and Catholics contributed toward a church building, which was begun in 1848; but it was not completed for more than two years. It was dedicated in 1851 by Bishop Timon. John Crosby and Timothy Culbert were the first trustees, and among the early prominent members were: Patrick Cline, Daniel Sullivan, Edward Howe, P. Keenan, John Haire, James Hunt and Michael Collins.

The Rev. D. Moore succeeded Father O'Brien at Hornellsville in 1851 and remained four years, when the Rev. T. Keenan, the Rev. F. McGlue, the Rev. A. MCConnell and the Rev. J.H. Leddy followed in succession till 1873, when the Wellsville parish was formed and Angelica was attached to Belmont.

Angelica was formerly attached to Belmont.

Angelica was formerly a part of Belmont Parish. It was made a separate parish in 1910 with the Rev. F. T. Kanaley, first resident pastor. The little mission of Birdsall, formerly attended from Canaseraga, was attached  to the new parish.

Father Kanaley built the rectory in 1912.  Father Kanaley was succeeded in 1917 by the present pastor, the Rev. John Campion.

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From: "History of the Diocese of Buffalo"  Rev. Thomas Donohue, D.D.

The Buffalo Catholic Publication Co., Inc. Buffalo, New York 1929.

Website: www.icc-ics.com
Saturday: 5:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 & 11:30 am
Mon, Tues, Fri: 8:10 am

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, WELLSVILLE

Researched & Transcribed by Donald R. Adams

The Catholics who were employed in the construction of the Genesee Valley Canal, and those who were employed in the building of the Erie R.R., sought homes on the fertile farm lands of Allegany and Steuben counties. There was a priest stationed for some time previous to 1850 at Greenwood, in Steuben County.  A little church was built there and from this place the priest made frequent trips to the vast\r region along the line of the canal and railroad where there were little groups of laborers or cluster of houses, which were the beginnings of the future prosperous villages and towns of Allegany, Steuben and Cattaraugus Counties. Greenwood decreased in importance, and the priest changed his residence to Hornellsville.  The first priest who was known to visit Wellsville was the Rev. Daniel Moore, who was then pastor at Hornellsville. He came in 1851, and held services in the district school house. There were not many Catholics in Wellsville at that time, but there were many Catholic farmers in the territory near the town.  There were a number of farmers at what was called Collins' settlement.  These were almost entirely Catholics, and they formed a very strong and respectable Catholic community.  They were prosperous, and had a district school which was exclusively attended by their children.  These came to church at Wellsville. Father Moore had an immense territory, about 80 miles in extent, to look after, and had to travel over the greater portion of his parish on horse-back.  He applied to the Bishop and an assistant; as it was almost impossible for this to look after the people of this immense territory, and with so many clusters of Catholics claiming his attention and service. 

He started a little church at Wellsville in the spring of 1852, on a lot which was purchased from Mr. S. A. Smith. The little building was finished by the end of August of the same year. The pastors from Hornellsville, from Scio, from Cuba or the Franciscans from Allegany, attended Wellsville until a resident pastor came in the person of the Rev. Phillip Kinsella. The Rev Michael Creeden enlarged the church in 1863, to accommodate the growing members of the congregation. Father Creedon also purchased, from E. J. Farnum, land for the cemetery.  It became necessary, in 1875 to again the frame church.

Other priests who attended the Wellsville parish, before it became an independent parish were: Rev. T. Keenan, Fathers Welsh, McClure, Storey, Creedon and McConnell.

When Father Kinsella came he started a parochial school, in 1876, and secured the Sisters of Mercy as teachers. Father Kinsella was succeeded in 1879 by the Rev. H.M. Leedy. Father Leedy's first work was the building of a large and modern parochial residence.  He then turned his attention to the convent, and he erected a handsome building for the residence of the sisters.  The old church had served the congregation for more than a quarter of a century. It was enlarged several times, and now it was too small for the congregation, and not the kind of building which suited the taste of the pastor or fulfilled the desires of the people.  Father Leedy resolved to erect a handsome stone structure, which would be an ornament to the town and a credit to the Catholic population of Wellsville.  The plans were drawn for a building 144 feet long by ninety-one feet in the transept and sufficiently large to accommodate 750 persons.

Mr. John Rauber donated a quarry of Warsaw Blue Stone for the church.  The quality and color of the stone seemed to be in thorough harmony with the title of the church, which was named in honor of the Immaculate Conception.  The church was completed in 1895 at a cost of about $50,000.  Father Leddy was made dean of the diocese by Bishop Ryan, in recognition of his long and faithful services.  On the death of Father McDermott of St. Stephen's Church, Buffalo, Father Leddy was promoted to the pastorate of this city parish.  He was succeeded in Wellsville by the Rev Louis A. Smithy. Father Smithy was a young man of brilliant achievements and bright promise. He was however, in poor health, and he died here shortly before Christmas, 1889. Shortly afterwards the Rev. Richard O'Brien was appointed to this important parish. There are over 300 families (1929) in the parish, and they have a complete church property, and a thoroughly organized and prosperous congregation.

Father O'Brien made many improvements in the next few years. He rebuilt the rectory, built a new school and installed a new heating plant at a cost of $10,000.

Father O'Brien was made a Rural Dean for the southern counties of the diocese, and in October, 1922 on the Bishop's return from Rome he was made a Domestic Prelate to the Holy Father.

IN the fall of 1927 Monsignor O'Brien was transferred to Buffalo and the Rev. Patrick Tracy became pastor of Wellsville and was named Dean of Allegany County.

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From: "History of the Diocese of Buffalo"  Rev. Thomas Donohue, D.D.

The Buffalo Catholic Publication Co., Inc. Buffalo, New York 1929.

Our Lady of Angels
50 South Street
Cuba, NY 14727
(716) 968-2885
Fr. Dissek
Saturday: 5:30 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am

SACRED HEART FRIENDSHIP

Researched & Transcribed by Donald R. Adams

Franciscan Fathers came occasionally to Friendship and said Mass for the few families located in the neighborhood. They said Mass in the homes of Michael Clark, James Driscoll and Patrick McLaughlan.

 The Church was built in 1879 by Father Lee of Cuba.

The land for the church and cemetery was purchased by John L. Baxter, who transferred it to the church.

Church was dedicated by Bishop Ryan.

The first mass was said on Christmas Day, 1879.

Not until April 1912 did it become an independent parish.  It was attended intermittently by the pastors of Cuba or Belmont. The Rev. Charles E. McHugh was appointed first resident pastor, April 13, 1912. The Rev. F. Zambusch succeeded Father McHugh, July 1, 1927.

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From: "History of the Diocese of Buffalo"  Rev. Thomas Donohue, D.D.

The Buffalo Catholic Publication Co., Inc. Buffalo, New York 1929.

St. Mary's of Bolivar
111 Wellsville Street
Bolivar, NY 14715
(716) 928-1024

ST. MARY'S CHURCH

Researched & Transcribed by Donald R. Adams 

Bolivar came into prominence at the time of the oil excitement about 1880.  The first Mass was said here in the opera house, and about 1882 steps were taken to organize a congregation for the many Catholics who had settled in the town.  This place formed and out-mission for Cuba for many years, and it was attended occasionally by the pastor of the latter place until it was organized into a parish with Portville, in 1903. The Rev. T. Carraher bought the property in 1883, and erected a little frame building for the accommodation of the few Catholics residing in the place. Father Carraher remained until 1889, when the Rev. J. Griffin was appointed pastor of Cuba and remained here until 1896, when the Rev. J. Rogers looked after the little congregation until January 1903.  IN January, 1903, the Rev Henry Dolan was sent to Bolivar as the first resident pastor, and Bolivar, with Portville was former into a parish.  Father Dolan purchased a house and fitted it up as a parochial residence. 

Portville has about the same (1929) number of families as Bolivar, and the first Mass was said here in 1879, by the Rev J. Hamel, in the house of Mr. Shine.  Father Hamel afterwards said Mass in Mohair's Hotel. A little church was erected here in 1886, as was dedicated under the title of Sacred Heart.  When the Rev T. Haire organized the new parish at Olean, he also took charge of the little mission of Portville, which he attended until he was succeeded by the Rev. J. Mooney. Portville continued as an out-mission  of Olean until January, 1903, when the Rev. Henry Dolan was appointed pastor of Bolivar and Portville. 

The Rev. William Kramph succeeded Father Dolan, March 1, 1912. IN 1914 Father Kramph built a new rectory and in 1918 he has paid off the entire debt.

The church was dedicated in 1905 by Bishop Colton, and the cemetery was blessed in 1904.

Father Kramph died, July 1923 and he was succeeded by the Rev. Edward McCaffery.

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From: "History of the Diocese of Buffalo"  Rev. Thomas Donohue, D.D.

The Buffalo Catholic Publication Co., Inc. Buffalo, New York 1929.

St. Patrick's of Belfast
31 East Hughes Street
Belfast, NY 14711
(716) 365-2215
Fr. Dennis Mancuso - Pastor
Website: www.stpatsbelfastfillmore.org

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH BELFAST

Researched & Transcribed by Donald R. Adams

Various priests probably said Mass in the shanties along the line of the canal (the Genesee Valley Canal), when men were engaged in its construction, but the Rev. T. McEvoy was the first known to have said Mass in the present town of Belfast. He held services over the store of A. J. Lewis.

After the opening of the canal many Catholics settled on the farm lands and in the town, and they hastened to erect a little building in which the might have Mass. Judge Benjamin Chamberlain gave a plot of land for the church. This land was covered with stumps, and a "bee" was organized to puit the land in condition for building. The building committee was composed of James Downing, Patrick Fennessey and James Markham, and they erected a little 30 x 40 frame church.  An addition, 30 x 60 was made in 1873 and the remodeled building as dedicated, August 20, 1878. 

The Catholics of this region had many meager opportunities of learning the principles of their religion. The priest came for many years irregularly; and even when he did come he could not give much time to the instruction of the young, but hurried away to fulfill other important duties.  The effect of this neglect was manifest in acts of the young.  When they were ready for marriage they did not wait for the arrival of the priest but hastened to the squire; and it was only the strong faith of their elders that kept them in the line of religious duty.

Up to 1869 the little congregation was only intermittently visited by the priest, generally from Hornellsville; but in this year the Rev. James H. Leddy was stationed at Belmont as resident pastor and established regular services in the little church at Belfast.  The priests who looked after the interests of the Catholics in Belfast immediately preceding Father Haire were: Rev. G. Dunbar, Rev. T. Ledwith, Rev. J. O’Mara and Rev. A. Barlow.

During Father Haire's pastorate the little frame church was destroyed by fire. With characteristic energy Father Haire immediately started the construction of the handsome brick church, which was completed at a cost of nearly $25,000.  The Rev. T. Barrett continued Father Haire's work, after the latter's transfer to Olean, until the Rev. J J. Dealy was appointed in 1902. 

Father Dealy induced Mr. Muldoon to donate his splendid residence property to the church for a convent, and school for the children of Belfast.

Very few changes have taken place in this parish for the last twenty years (1909-1929) with the exception of the change in pastors. 

Four young men from this parish have been ordained to the priesthood.

The following pastors have guided the affairs of St. Patrick's parish since 1904

Rev. John J Dealy to 1912, Rev. Martin Corbett to May 1915, Rev. Joseph D. Mountain to Sept., 1918, Rev. Francis Hunt to January 1920, Rev. Benjamin Crane came in 1920.

The church was dedicated in 1885 by Bishop Ryan (1) who also consecrated the cemetery in 1882.

(1) Bishop Ryan became the 2nd Bishop of Buffalo, Following Bishop Timon in 1868.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH , CANASERAGA

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From: "History of the Diocese of Buffalo"  Rev. Thomas Donohue, D.D.

The Buffalo Catholic Publication Co., Inc. Buffalo, New York 1929.