SAINT MATTHIAS HISTORY

1998 marks the 125th anniversary of the parish. Nora Clinton Harrington in a handwritten

"Sketch of the Parish" writes that Bishop John Timon, CM of Buffalo celebrated the first

Mass in the French Creek area in 1859 at the Clinton home on Harrington Hill Road.

Visiting priests continued to serve the area until 1913. A deed for a Catholic Church in

French Creek was recorded on May 30th, 1873. The parishioners contributed the labor,

lumber, masonry and pine shingles for the' construction of the church that is still in use

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today. On September 15th, 1873 the church was dedicated by Bishop Stephen Ryan, CM.

On July 5th, 1914 Bishop Charles Colton celebrated Confirmation at the parish 'and soon

after, Father John Marencovick was assigned as the first resident pastor. While has was

pastor the parish house was built. In 1923 a garage and belfry were added. In 1924 an

electrical system was installed. Each pastor that followed used his talents to add different

things to the church and parish house. In 1980, the front porch was enclosed to make an

office. The Summer of 1983 brought a gift of land from Joel and Dorothy [Rowan]

Babcock in memory of Raymond and Timothy Rowan for a parking lot for the church. In

1984 the parishioners gathered to reinforce the foundation of the' church where some of

the wood had rotted and covered the exterior of the church with vinyl siding making sure

to preserve the original look of the church. The Summer and Fall of 1989 saw the

rebuilding and rededication of the bell tower. The bell is now rung before each of the

weekend Masses and at Funerals and other special occasions. The Fall of 1991 saw the

parish house covered with vinyl siding. The Spring of 1992 saw Cable TV reach the

French Creek area. During the Spring of 1995, the interior of the church was redone. In

the Summer of 1997 natural gas came to the area and new furnaces were installed in the

church and parish house along with air conditioning in the church. On July 26th, 1998,

Bishop Henry Mansell joined parishioners as celebrant of the 125th amiiversary Mass.

The Fall of 1998 saw a very successful Stewardship in Faith increased giving program in

the parish. A cemetery dating back to 1882 is maintained by the parish. In the course of

the years many people have visited Saint Matthias Parish to check parish records that go

back to 1871.