| Glencoe, Indiana (From the Anniversary Book that was printed for St. Patrick’s 150th Anniversary Celebration 1990 with Father Joseph Clauss as Pastor) |
| The beginning of St. Patrick’s Church was in 1840 at Glencoe. It was the fourth Catholic Church in Daviess County. The other three churches were St. Mary’s in Barr Township, St. Simon’s at Washington and St. Peter’s in Montgomery, which was the oldest parish. Stories are told that when a visiting priest from Montgomery came, mass was held in a house south of the present Glencoe Cemetery. In 1840, five acres of land were deeded to St. Patrick’s Church by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Colvin and an other five acres by William and Margaret Mallory. This tract of land is the small woods across from Glencoe which is presently owned by the Department of Natural Resources. Fr. Julian Delaune was appointed to St. Patrick’s Church at Glencoe in 1840. A log church with a stone foundation was built by the parishioners at a low cost with Fr. Delaune as supervisor. Fr. Delaune offered the first mass in the new church. The parish grew in number and was led by Fr. Sorin, Fr. Dupontavice, and Fr. Ducondray. Fr. Piers took over the parish in the late 1840’s. The parish was spreading to the northeast and east. Glencoe was too far for parishioners to conveniently attend church on a regular basis. Roads were poor and easily flooded. Plans were made to build a church close to Alfordsville. Timbers were already being hewn for the sills of the church when Fr. Piers decided against two churches. He wanted one centrally located church. The present site of St. Patrick’s was chosen. This decision was unpopular and caused dissension for some time. In 1859 the congregation built the present St. Patrick’s Church under the direction of Fr. Piers. The bricks for the church were burned near the church itself. Fr. William Doyle became the first resident pastor in 1870 which added much spirit to the parish. The original rectory was built in 1875 across the road from the church. Its cost was approximately $2,000. The rectory had a full basement and stone walls. Jim and Carol Saul currently reside in the former rectory. Fr. Doyle bought the church bell for $250. Since it was not possible to place the bell on top of the church, scaffolding to hang the bell was built in front of the church. In 1881, Fr. G.M. Ginnsz became the pastor. He organized the Total Abstinence Society at St. Patrick’s. He also added finishing touches to the rectory in 1883. He started the building of a chapel on the grounds at Glencoe and plans for a school there. He had the building materials collected when he was transferred. Fr. Curran was appointed to replace Fr. Ginnsz in 1885. Under his leadership, many improvements were made. A new roof, new ceilings, and a new floor were installed at St. Patrick’s Church. The church was also wainscoted (paneled with solid wood). Eighteen acres of additional land were purchased. The chapel at Glencoe was completed in 1887. It contained twenty-four pews and was utilized for burial masses. A two-room school was built at Glen coe. (These buildings were torn down in 1935.) The present rectory was built in 1895 at a cost of $3,000. After Fr. Curran, Fr. Burget was pastor until l914. The Delco lighting system was installed in the church and a concrete wall was built around the church during his stay. He also developed the apple orchard. Fr. Hamill oversaw the parish from 1914 until 1919. He had a church entryway built and the bell was hoisted above the new entrance. New pews, stained glass windows, and a sacristy were added to the church. From 1919 until 1928 St. Patrick’s was served for short interims by Frs. Kavanaugh, Shea, Zirkelback, and Vincius. Fr. Shea had the bathroom installed and a garage built. During the post-war period several families left the area, greatly reducing the size of the congregation. The depression that followed caused an economic burden that necessitated the Bishop making St. Patrick’s a mission. Priests from St. Peter’s attended to the needs of St. Patrick’s parish. Fr. Mcloughlin’s appointment in June of 1934 put new enthusiasm into the parish. He restored the rectory and made minor improvements to the church. He was succeeded on September 13,1935 by Fr. Forest Strange. He had the church re-roofed. The hall east of the church was built. Fr. John Shaughnessey came to St. Patrick’s in September of 1938. ln the Spring of 1939 the redecorating of the church interior was begun by members of the parish. Statues were donated by Fr. Gerdon of Loogootee, Fr. Raymond Smith of Montgomery, and Fr. Shaughnessey. A new set of Italian Stations of the Cross were added. Early in1940 the church interior was sealed and painted. The Delco lighting system was replaced by rural electrification. The Centennial was celebrated on Sunday, August 25, 1940,beginning with a solemn mass. The celebrant was Fr. Jerome Bennett, the only former parishioner to become a priest. The Most Reverend Joseph E. Ritter D.D. preached the homily and conducted Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Altar Society prepared a dinner and late evening lunch. St. Patrick’s was served from 1947-1957 by Fr. C. Conen, Fr. James O’Conner, Fr. Ralph Endress and Fr. Linus Hopf. Fr. Leo Conti came in 1957. In 1959 St. Patrick’s celebrated the 100th anniversary of the building of the church on March 17, the feast day of St. Patrick, patron saint of the parish. The activities began with a mass celebrated by Bishop Henry Grimmelsman and several priests. Lunch was served. Confirmation was administered to the children in the afternoon. Fr. Chris O’Brian came in 1962. While he was pastor, the cemetery association was formed. Fr. William Freeman was pastor for a few months in 1965. For approximately six months St. Patrick’s Church was without a resident pastor. Fr. John Foster was administrator.Fr. Joseph Clauss was welcomed in August 1966. The parishioners were elated to have a resident pastor once again. In September a parish picnic was held that drew folks from all around. Joe, Sanford,and Frances Silcock donated two acres of land to enlarge the cemetery. The men of the parish and Fr. Clauss demolished the old house on the premises, cut the trees, and seeded the ground. Fr. Clauss was transferred to St. Mary’s in Barr Town ship in 1967. Fr. William Deering became pastor in 1967 and Fr. Donald Ackerman followed him in 1969 for one month. Fr. Clauss helped out for three months in 1969 before Fr. Oloughlin was appointed for one year. The rectory had a new roof added. The parish had a homecoming which brought several former parishioners back for the day. Fr. O’Loughlin was the last resident pastor. In 1970 St. Patrick’s Church was made a mission with the priest from All Saints of Cannelburg coming for services. Those priests included Fr. John Lefler, Fr. Linus Hopf, Fr. Michael Allen, Fr. John V. Foster, Fr. Joseph Erbacher, and Fr. Firmus Dick. While Fr. Erbacher was pastor, a reconciliation room, car peting, and new entrance doors were added to the church. In 1982 the first electric organ was purchased by the church. While Firmus Dick was administrator,a new furnace was installed with the altar society paying for it. In 1984 the priests from St. Peter’s of Montgomery began to serve St. Patrick’s parish. While Fr. Art Mergen was in charge, the interior of the church and the altars were painted. While work was being done, the pews were moved outside and mass was held in front of the church under the shade trees. The parish was served for short interims by Fr. M. Lynch, Fr. Dave Fleck, and Fr. Mindrup in 1986 until Fr. Joseph Clauss was appointed to St. Peter’s in November of 1986. In 1989 the stained glass windows were restored and storm windows were added. The rectory has been rented to the Adrian and Cecelia Grannan family. It has been restored and decorated. This is a brief history of St. Patrick’s Church during the last 150 years. We are morally certain in God’s own plan and with the help of His grace, the blessings that have brought the small family of St. Patrick’s parish to this stage of history immaterial and especially spiritual development will continue into the future. St. Patrick’s has experienced numerous changes since its beginning and we offer grateful thanks to those who have gone before us. May we continue to garner graces and blessings on our little home away from home which is St. Patrick’s. |
Pastors of St. Patrick Church
| 1839-1840 | Father Julian Delaune (built log church at Glencoe) |
| 1840-1847 | Attended or visited by Father Dupontavice and Father Ducondray |
| 1847-1870 | Father Piers (attended from St. Peter, Montgomery) |
| 1870-1880 | Father William Doyle (first resident pastor) |
| 1880-1885 | Father G.M. Ginnsz |
| 1885-1905 | Father Charles Curran |
| 1905-1914 | Father Frederick Burget |
| 1914-1919 | Father Joseph E. Hamill |
| 1919-1920 | Father Timothy Kavanaugh |
| 1920-1927 | Father James Shea |
| 1927-1928 | Father E.J. Zirkelbach and Father J.M. Vincius |
| 1928-1930 | Father Joseph Kempf |
| 1930-1934 | Mission of St. Peter, Montgomery (attended by Fathers Somnes, Sullivan, Wagner and Fichter) |
| 1934-1935 | Father Amos McLaughlin |
| 1935-1938 | Father Forest Strange |
| 1938-1947 | Father John Shaugnessy |
| 1947-1949 | Father Clement Conen |
| 1949-1953 | Father James O’Connor |
| 1953-1954 | Father Ralph Endress |
| 1954-1957 | Father Linus Hopf |
| 1957-1962 | Father Leo Conti |
| 1962-1965 | Father Chris O’Brien |
| 1965-1966 | Father William Freeman |
| 1966 | Father John Foster (attended from St. Peter from March to August) |
| 1966-1967 | Father Joseph Clauss |
| 1967-1969 | Father William Deering |
| 1969-1970 | Father Raphael O’Laughlin, C.S.B. |
| 1970-1974 | Father John Lefler (attended from All Saints, Cannelburg) |
| 1974-1976 | Monsignor Linus Hopf (mission from All Saints) |
| 1976-1983 | Father Joseph Erbacher (of All Saints) |
| 1983-1984 | Father Firmus Dick (of All Saints) |
| 1984-1986 | Father Arthur Mergen (of St. Peter, Montgomery) |
| 1986 | Father Matthew Lynch (of St. Peter) |
| 1986-1991 | Father Joseph Claus (of St. Peter) |
| 1991-1998 | Fr. Lowell Will (Last Sunday Mass offered July 1997) |
| 1998-2002 | Father Joseph Erbacher (administrator of chapel) |
| 2002-2016 | Father James Koressel (administrator of chapel) |
| 2013-2014 | St. Patrick closed and furnishing removed. Altars to be used in the new St. Mary church in Ireland, IN. |
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Photos
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St. Patrick’s Cemetery
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