Present building History of St. Mary's Church (Dedham, Massachusetts)

1 present building

1.1 cornerstone ceremony
1.2 construction
1.3 dedication
1.4 cost , fundraising

present building

a newly married couple in st. mary s

in 1867 house purchased on high street father john brennan , converted rectory. in february 1880 announced protestant had business in boston had paid off parish s $700 debt, allowing congregation commence work on new building. welcome news, parish bankrupt @ time.

a building used bath male parishioners of st. raphael s in east dedham torn down on october 10, 1880 in order used staging ground construction of new church.

charles logue, built numerous churches in greater boston area fenway park, died in arms of son while inspecting roof of st. mary s in 1919.

cornerstone ceremony

a map september 1892 showing not entirely finished church , parochial hall

the cornerstone of present church laid @ 3:00 on october 17, 1880 archbishop john williams. crowd of between 4,000 , 5,000 people attended, , special trains run boston , norwood accommodate wished attend. 1 of largest gatherings in dedham s history.

the congregation marched present building on washington street site of new church on high street ceremony. included in procession holy name society, young men s lyceum, rosary society, young ladies solidarity, st. aloysius society of boys, , children of sacred , holy angels solidarity.

the crowd included many of leading citizens of dedham 30 priests. clergy included st mary s pastor, father robert johnson, father theodore metcalf of cathedral of holy cross served master of ceremonies, , father joseph henning of roxbury gave homily. cathedral choir sang , higgins s band provided music, did united choirs of dedham. theodore metcalf descendant of michael metcalf, signer of dedham covenant , first teacher in dedham, first public school in america.

williams blessed cornerstone , place foundation poured, white cross marked location of future altar.

construction

the current church constructed next door rectory father brennan established on high street. footprint of gothic church, father johnson said cathedral in wilderness, measures 150 long 65 wide, , bell tower 164 tall. apex of ceiling 80 , has longest aisle in archdiocese of boston. @ time, , remains today, largest , imposing church in town , 1 of conspicuous edifices in town.

there 4 large doorways facing high street, , granite buttresses give church appearance of strength , solidarity. doors, pews, made of polished oak. altar carved caen stone, , altar rail of green onyx. today 1 of doors permanently shut portion of vestibule has become reconciliation room, , altar rail has been moved down space in front of front pew. built, had seating capacity of 1,200 in vestry , 1,500 in church proper. organ sits high above nave in choir loft can hold 50 singers.

the broad front stairs pointed out away church brass railing in middle, due widening of high street in 1920s turned run parallel street. when built, church said fireproof ventilation , heating system of best, , acoustic properties unexcelled. windows of rolled cathedral stained glass , made tyrolese art glass company, company innsbruck, austria.

the interior walls plastered william gould, escaped slave settled in dedham. 1 of gould s employees improperly mixed plaster , though not visible looking @ it, gould insisted removed , reapplied correctly @ own great expense. lining church fluted grecian columns , 7 arches. crystal chandeliers hung along both sides of nave, above altar, , above doors.

the semicircular apse had stained glass windows showing, left right, st. patirck, st. peter, assumption of mary, st. paul , st. brigid. @ either end of altar statues of saints peter , paul. in between 3 paintings framed elaborate gothic ornamentation on rerdos.

the new church designed p.b. ford, , architect offices on school street in boston, , built welch , delano. charged hiring 18 dedham men complete basement, master mechanic serve superintendent. construction began on june 28, 1880, , in 1883 dedham transcript wrote plastering of new catholic church finished, windows put in place, , betokens occupancy of basement.

while upper church still under construction, lower church used mass , upper portion various fairs , other gatherings. first mass said in lower church @ 10:30 a.m. on october 24, 1886. crowd overflowing, , included 20 protestants, many of local importance, , choir st. peter s in south boston. church, though in constant use, not completed 20 years after cornerstone laid.

dedication

a drawing page 7 of september 10, 1900, issue of boston daily globe depicting dedication of st mary s church in dedham, massachusetts

after 20 years of working, praying, , fundraising meager immigrant wages of many of parishioners, upper church completed. took long architect had take on was, father fleming said, “almost beautiful ordinary use.”

the upper church completed , dedicated archbishop williams on september 9, 1900 @ 10:00 a.m. in addition williams, archbishop sebastiano martinelli, papal delegate united states, attended, did bishop denis mary bradley of new hampshire. crowd, numbered @ 1,200, included communion class , many prominent citizens of town, including protestants. dedication packed church, requiring many stand, , tickets required enter.

the ceremony began procession of clergy rectory church, prayer chanted on porch @ top of stairs. clergy walked around building, blessing walls holy water. on porch, litany of saints said before interior walls sprinkled holy water. final prayer said in sanctuary complete dedication.

martinelli said first mass in upper church number of clergy surrounding areas present. music provided choir of 30, plus 4 soloists , part of germania orchestra of boston.

in homily, boston globe published, bradley said that

today, beloved brethren, unto solomon on occasion of dedication of great temple of jerusalem, zealous pastor proclaims have built house in god’s name . . . has been reserved privilege of offering god house worthy of name beautiful structure in assembled morning.

after mass, @ 4:00, 200 children confirmed, , solemn vespers sung in evening.

cost , fundraising

after cornerstone laying, dinner held @ local hall $1,250 donated. largest donation of $100 came timothy callahan, , received golden trowel gift.

albert nickerson, member of dedham s st. paul s episcopal church, donated $10,000 towards effort. dedham granite outer walls donated protestant, john bullard, did not live see church completed. granite came bullard s own lot. in 1886 estimated cost $100,000, 1890 cost reported $125,000, , @ dedication in 1900 stood @ $250,000.

fundraisers, including grand coffee party in memorial hall, held years come pay edifice , drew people not dedham, many surrounding communities.

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