The Beginning of St. Ann’s Parish: The story of St. Ann's Parish began in
1868. On the Feast Day of St. James the Greater, a group of benefactors,
James Bradford, William Bowe and Edward Mahoney, met at the urging of
prominent local businessman James Riddle to discuss the establishment of
a church to serve the area bounded by Van Buren Street, Mt. Salem Lane,
8th Street and the Brandywine River. The happy consequence of this
meeting was a decision to establish the Parish of St. James, to be located
on Lovering Avenue. Construction of the new church began immediately.
Avenue. Construction of the new church began immediately.
1868. On the Feast Day of St. James the Greater, a group of benefactors,
James Bradford, William Bowe and Edward Mahoney, met at the urging of
prominent local businessman James Riddle to discuss the establishment of
a church to serve the area bounded by Van Buren Street, Mt. Salem Lane,
8th Street and the Brandywine River. The happy consequence of this
meeting was a decision to establish the Parish of St. James, to be located
on Lovering Avenue. Construction of the new church began immediately.
Avenue. Construction of the new church began immediately.
St. James Chapel. In 1869, the year
following the founding of the Diocese
came to first diocesan bishop, The
Most Reverend Thomas R. Becket.
Located on the north side of
Lovering Avenue between DuPont
was described at the time as a neat
frame structure, tasteful and
substantial, dimensions 37 x 57 feet,
surmounted by a cupola on which
was a large cross. Over the next
eighteen years, St. James Chapel
served the community well through its
many ministries.
following the founding of the Diocese
came to first diocesan bishop, The
Most Reverend Thomas R. Becket.
Located on the north side of
Lovering Avenue between DuPont
was described at the time as a neat
frame structure, tasteful and
substantial, dimensions 37 x 57 feet,
surmounted by a cupola on which
was a large cross. Over the next
eighteen years, St. James Chapel
served the community well through its
many ministries.
Train Troubles. As the new industrial age flourished, the tranquility of St.
James changed. Specifically, the tracks of the new B&O Railroad were laid so
near the church that, according to a parish historian, "the clanging of-the-bell,
the piercing whistle, the snorting steam and crunching wheels of the
foundation of Saint James. As a result, it was decided the parish would have to
relocate.
James changed. Specifically, the tracks of the new B&O Railroad were laid so
near the church that, according to a parish historian, "the clanging of-the-bell,
the piercing whistle, the snorting steam and crunching wheels of the
foundation of Saint James. As a result, it was decided the parish would have to
relocate.
St. Ann’s is built. Church leaders quickly settled on property located at the
intersection of Gilpin Avenue and Union Street and in December of 1887, a
new one-story church was built at this site. The cost of $9,911 was funded in
large part by the Vicar General of the Diocese, the Very Reverend John A.
Lyons. This contribution was commemorated by the renaming of the parish
after his mother, Ann. Thus, the parish came to be dedicated to St. Ann, the
mother of Mary.
intersection of Gilpin Avenue and Union Street and in December of 1887, a
new one-story church was built at this site. The cost of $9,911 was funded in
large part by the Vicar General of the Diocese, the Very Reverend John A.
Lyons. This contribution was commemorated by the renaming of the parish
after his mother, Ann. Thus, the parish came to be dedicated to St. Ann, the
mother of Mary.
Growth and Change. The new parish quickly flourished. In November of
1892, a second story and a tower were added to the church. 1898 saw the
building of St. Ann School and 1910 brought a new convent to house the
school's Franciscan sisters. During this period the wooden steps of the
Church were replaced with stone steps.
1892, a second story and a tower were added to the church. 1898 saw the
building of St. Ann School and 1910 brought a new convent to house the
school's Franciscan sisters. During this period the wooden steps of the
Church were replaced with stone steps.
The Church is Lowered. In 1933, during
the Great Depression, the church building
was extensively renovated: the twenty-eight:
front: steps were removed as was the upper
church floor, so that the basement floor level
became the floor of the church as well as the
new entrance level. New Gothic pews were
added and a new lower ceiling was added 15
feet below the old peak. The upper level
doorways were converted tracery windows,
new entrances were constructed and a stone
wing was added to the rear of the church.
The resulting edifice, looking much as it does
today, was rededicated in 1935. And in the
midst of all of this activity, St. Ann's priests,
sisters and lay ministers quietly served their
flock guided by the Light of Christ and the
selfless example of the Parish Patroness, St.
Ann.
the Great Depression, the church building
was extensively renovated: the twenty-eight:
front: steps were removed as was the upper
church floor, so that the basement floor level
became the floor of the church as well as the
new entrance level. New Gothic pews were
added and a new lower ceiling was added 15
feet below the old peak. The upper level
doorways were converted tracery windows,
new entrances were constructed and a stone
wing was added to the rear of the church.
The resulting edifice, looking much as it does
today, was rededicated in 1935. And in the
midst of all of this activity, St. Ann's priests,
sisters and lay ministers quietly served their
flock guided by the Light of Christ and the
selfless example of the Parish Patroness, St.
Ann.
More Recent Changes: The second half, of the 20th century was equally
exciting for St. Ann's. In 1969, a new Social Hall and Gym were dedicated.
The result of countless hours of work by scores of in which to gather. In 1995,
a new wing built out from the Social Hall and incorporating the then vacant
convent. In addition to significant renovations to the original school building,
new classrooms were built and the school was divided into two distinct wings:
the Franciscan Wing, housing the lower grades, and the Taggart Wing,
housing the upper grades, new specialty classrooms and parish meeting
spaces. The transformation resulted in a state-of-the-art facility, in which the
best of both the old and the new were combined.In that same year, the Mary,
Mother of the Church Grotto was dedicated. In 1999, St. Ann School
celebrated its centennial, marked by a year-long celebration.
exciting for St. Ann's. In 1969, a new Social Hall and Gym were dedicated.
The result of countless hours of work by scores of in which to gather. In 1995,
a new wing built out from the Social Hall and incorporating the then vacant
convent. In addition to significant renovations to the original school building,
new classrooms were built and the school was divided into two distinct wings:
the Franciscan Wing, housing the lower grades, and the Taggart Wing,
housing the upper grades, new specialty classrooms and parish meeting
spaces. The transformation resulted in a state-of-the-art facility, in which the
best of both the old and the new were combined.In that same year, the Mary,
Mother of the Church Grotto was dedicated. In 1999, St. Ann School
celebrated its centennial, marked by a year-long celebration.
Perpetual Adoration. In conjunction
with the school renovations, St. Ann's
Perpetual Adoration Chapel, the
Chapel of Divine Mercy, was
constructed. Dedicated in 1997, this
sacred space, in which the Blessed
Sacrament is adored twenty-four hours
a day, has become one of the
hallmarks of St. Ann's Parish. It draws
both parishioners and
non-parishioners alike, leaving them
refreshed and rededicated to
spreading the message of Christ. We
are truly honored to have the Blessed
Sacrament ever-present in our midst.
with the school renovations, St. Ann's
Perpetual Adoration Chapel, the
Chapel of Divine Mercy, was
constructed. Dedicated in 1997, this
sacred space, in which the Blessed
Sacrament is adored twenty-four hours
a day, has become one of the
hallmarks of St. Ann's Parish. It draws
both parishioners and
non-parishioners alike, leaving them
refreshed and rededicated to
spreading the message of Christ. We
are truly honored to have the Blessed
Sacrament ever-present in our midst.
Chapel of Divine Mercy
| lowering of the Church |
Graduating Class of 1913
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
St. James Chapel - -1869
St. Ann's Church ©2010 - All rights reserved
