St. Bernard’s Church Account Book

Item — Folder: SC141-STBE

Identifier: SC141-STBE

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The account book contains a record of expenses from 1850-1856, recorded by Rev. M.W. Gibson. It includes lists of expenses for building and furnishing a temporary chapel in 1850. The volume also contains the accounts of Rev. J. Boyce from 1856-1862, Rev. N. Noisseux. Assistant Pastor in charge of mission in West Boylston and the French in Worcester and Rev. P.J. O’Reilly, Assistant Pastor at St. John’s from 1857-59.

Dates

Creation: 1850-1863

Creator

St. Bernard's Church (Fitchburg, Mass.) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions

Conditions Governing Use

Materials believed to be under copyright or other restrictions are available for limited noncommercial, educational and personal use only, or for fair use as defined by United States copyright law and with proper citation. Please note that the College of the Holy Cross may not hold the rights to all items in this collection. Users assume responsibility for identifying all copyright holders and for determining whether permission is needed to make any use of the content. For permission under rights held by the College, please contact archives@holycross.edu.

Historical Note

St. Bernard’s was the first Catholic Church erected in Fitchburg, MA and one of the first parishes founded in Worcester County. A temporary church was built by Rev. M.W. Gibson in the town in 1848, which was the forerunner to St. Bernard’s Church. Construction on a new church began almost immediately and on September 12, 1852, St. Bernard’s was officially dedicated by Right Rev. John Bernard Fitzpatrick, the bishop of Boston at the time. The congregation grew to a point where the first church became insufficient and Rev. Cornelius M. Foley set out to build a new church in 1866. After purchasing enough land work began on the foundation of the new church in 1869, with the corner stone laid on August 22, 1869. The basement of the church was finished by the winter and the church was completed early the next year. The church of St. Bernard’s is still located on Water Street in Fitchburg.