Parish History

At the turn of the century, Sacred Heart Parish was established in what was then 'East Port Chester' (now Byram) and Glenville became a mission of the new parish. When Rev. Thomas Finn became pastor of Sacred Heart, he recognized a need for a proper church in Glenville. This energetic priest purchased land from the American Felt Company for a new church structure on the south side of Glenville St. An advisory committee consisting of Mr. John Broderick and Mr. Thomas Howley aided Fr. Finn in working out plans for the new church.

Progress was swift, and on June 1, 1902, a groundbreaking ceremony took place on Glenville St. In the presence of a thousand people, the cornerstone was blessed by the Right Rev. Michael Tierney, Sixth Bishop of Hartford. Assisting His Lordship were Rev. Thomas Finn, Pastor of Sacred Heart; Rev. James C. O’Brien, of Stamford; Rev. Frank Havey, S.S., of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie; Rev. D. O’Connor, of Noroton; Rev T. J. Kelly, of Bridgeport; and Revs. J. T. Berry and David O’Keefe, from Rye, NY.

A box was placed within the cornerstone containing names of the reigning Pontiff, Pope Leo XIII; the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt; the Governor of Connecticut, Governor McLean; Selectmen of the Town of Greenwich, Messrs. Knapp, Ritch and Wilson; Pastor of the Parish, Father Finn; copies of the Port Chester Enterpriseand Catholic Transcript and coins of the current money of the times.

The architect of the church, Mr. Joseph Jackson, and the builder, Mr. Max A. Dunschmidt, aided by Mr. Patrick Finn of Greenwich, set the cornerstone. The Reverend T. J. Kelly, Bridgeport, delivered the sermon. Following the conclusion of Father Kelly’s address, the Bishop made a few remarks congratulating the people on the work they had done for their new church.

Following the laying of the cornerstone, the erection of the church proper began immediately. The new church, a wooden framed building of Gothic design with  clerestory, 68 feet long and 48 feet wide, with a brick basement. The seating capacity was approximately two hundred and forty-five. Opalescent glass windows were donated by different parishioners. There were three altars of Gothic design and a spacious sanctuary. The interior was finished in hard pine, stained and finished in natural wood with wood-paneled ceilings. Above the Main Altar were three large stained-glass windows.

The new church was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Tierney on October 19, 1902. Solemn High Mass was celebrated for the first time in the church by Rev. Charles J. McElroy, assisted by Rev. T. H. Shanley, Deacon, with Rev. Frank Havey as Subdeacon. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. James C. O’Brien.

From the year 1902 until 1910, St. Paul’s Church remained a mission of the East Port Chester Parish. As a result of urgent requests of Fr. Finn, the Glenville Mission became a separate parish in 1910, named then as now, St. Paul's Church of Glenville, Connecticut. Bishop J. J. Nilan appointed Reverend John J. Burke, the Curate of Sacred Heart Church, as the first Pastor of St. Paul’s.

Upon entering the priesthood, Fr. Burke was selected by Bishop Tierney to go to Poland to study the Polish language. On his return, he was appointed curate to Fr. Finn at Sacred Heart. St. Paul’s mission had approximately eight hundred communicants and nearly five hundred people of Polish extraction.  It was felt that this popular priest was well-suited for the ministry entrusted to him.

The Rectory was located on Riversville Road, a considerable distance from the church. Through Fr. Burke’s efforts, and the courtesy of officials of the American Felt Company, a large tract of land alongside the church was donated to the Parish and a new Rectory was built. Upon its completion, a celebratory reception, arranged by Mrs. Frank P. Haggerty and Mrs. Dora O’Connor, was held for Fr. Burke in the Knights of Columbus Hut, in Greenwich. During the evening of entertainment and refreshments, the presentation of a purse and articles of linen to be used in furnishing the new rectory was made to Father Burke.

After fourteen years of ministry at St. Paul’s, Fr. Burke was assigned to St. Thomas's Parish in Thomaston, Connecticut in 1924. Fr. Burke was given a farewell reception at Glenville School by the people of Glenville and hundreds of them crowded into the auditorium. W. S. O’Brien, the school's Principal, presided and among the speakers were Fr. Murphy, of Greenwich; Fr. Finn, (formerly of Sacred Heart, East Port Chester, then of Norwalk); and Fr. Joseph King, of New Milford.

Reverend O. S. Beaumister was assigned as second Pastor of St. Paul’s in September, 1924. Fr. Beaumister continued to make improvements to the campus. An attractive courtyard was developed between the Church and Rectory, and in May 1925, the Glenville Fire Company presented a new bell to the Parish. Prior to the dedication of the bell, a parade, led by Fire Chief Johnson, marched from the Fire House to the church grounds. There, Fr. Beaumister read the names of each member of the Glenville Fire Company as a recognition of the gift. Following the dedication ceremonies, refreshments were served at the Fire House.  Although no longer at St. Paul's - the bell still exists, now located as part of a memorial in front of the Fire House.

To mark the Silver Jubilee of the construction of the Church building, its interior was completely renovated with funds raised by the People of the Parish. A new Estey organ was installed, and the 'St. Paul’s Choir' was founded.  While one of the largest parishes in the Diocese in terms of territory, St. Paul's was one of the smallest in terms of membership. Yet, on October 16, 1927, a flag-and-flower-bedecked Church was filled to capacity, for the Solemn High Mass of Jubilee. Fr. Beaumister sang the Mass; assisting him as deacon was Fr. Finn, founder and builder of St. Paul's Church; and as subdeacon, Fr. Cornelius Buckley of Greenwich, Fr. Beaumister's former curate. The Masters of Ceremonies were Frs. Charles Kelly of Willimantic and Alexander Wollschlager of East Port Chester. The sermon was preached by Fr. O’Brien who had delivered the sermon at the Solemn Mass of Dedication twenty-five years earlier. A memorial book entitled, 'Silver Jubilee, October 16, 1927', was printed for the occasion. The book contained a photograph of the Church, and articles by Fr. Cornelius J. Buckley, of Greenwich, and a history of St. Paul’s Parish by Fr. Beaumister himself.

A men’s organization was formed at St. Paul’s Church in 1931, under the direction of Father Beaumister. Thirty men were received into the membership of the Parish Men’s League of St. Paul’s. The constitution and by-laws were adopted and officers were elected for a one-year period. Purpose of the organization was to serve as a parish agency in various parish activities, to take an interest in younger members of the parish and sponsor sports teams. Officers were: Director, Father Beaumister; President, Edward Deck; Vice-President, Vincent Smith; Treasurer, James Clark; Financial Secretary, John Rockless; Corresponding and Recording Secretary, Bruno Augustin.

In June, 1935, the entire community of Glenville turned out to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the erection of St. Paul’s as a Parish. Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at the Church by Fr. Burke, the First Pastor. A special sermon was given by now-Msgr. Thomas Finn of Norwalk, who was the Pastor of Sacred Heart, East Port Chester and Founder of St. Paul's Mission. A thirty-two member choir, under the musical direction of Fr. Beaumister, sang the entire Mass. James Butler of Glenville accompanied the choir on the organ. A  parade, held in the afternoon to honor Frs. Finn and Burke, was led by Grand Marshall, Vincent Guzenski, of Glenville. The evening’s festivities of speeches and entertainment were held under large tents on the Church grounds.

Reverend William J. Topor was appointed pastor of St. Paul’s in 1938 succeeding the late Fr. Beaumister. Fr. Topor had long been active among Polish Catholics at St. Joseph’s, Norwich, and Holy Cross, New Britain. Fr. Topor celebrated his first Mass in Glenville on December 4th, 1938. The John Sobieski Society of Glenville sponsored a banquet of welcome in his honor. Among the guest speakers was Fr. Burke, the First Pastor. Guests from Greenwich included First Selectman and Mrs. Eugene S. Loughlin, Judge L. Paul Burke, and Mr. & Mrs. Frank Reilly. During his years here, Fr. Topor undertook extensive repairs to the Church and Rectory, and under his direction the Church basement was converted into a Parish Hall.

Fr. Topor also organized a group, which met on Monday evenings, to aid the war effort. These Monday meetings not only helped a good cause, but brought the members of St. Paul’s Parish into a true family of Faith. Fr. Topor came to be held in high esteem and respect in the Town by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He was active in the work of various social agencies in Greenwich, and had special concern for the young people of Glenville.

Reverend Felix Werpechowski was appointed to succeed Fr. Topor in June, 1948. The Golden Jubilee of the founding of the Mission was celebrated in October 1952, by enthusiastic parishioners. The Most Reverend Henry J. O’Brien, Bishop of Hartford, presided at the 11:00 AM Solemn High Mass of Jubilee, assisted by Monsignor John F. Hackett, Auxiliary Bishop, and other visiting priests. Mass was sung by the Very Reverend McGurkin of Maryknoll, and the preacher was the Reverend Joseph Czapla, C.M. A special musical program was arranged by Mr. Leo Bogdanchik, the Parish organist. Confirmation was administered to thirty-five boys and girls and seven adults following the Mass. Under Fr. Werpechowski’s direction, the Church and Rectory were freshly painted, and the grounds re-landscaped to mark the occasion.

In December, 1956, Fr. Werpechowski announced that forty acres of farmland on the corner of King Street and Sherwood Avenue in the area once known as Brundage Corners had been purchased by the Parish. While this purchase was made with a view toward a parochial school some time in the future, it was made more urgent because property in Greenwich was being bought up at a rapid rate after the Second World War, to provide housing for New York City commuters. In the meantime, the Parish had become part of the new Diocese of Bridgeport, established in 1953.

In October, 1957, a meeting was held to formulate plans for a fund drive for a new Church. Mr. John Dowdle was appointed General Chairman of this drive which raised between $200,000 and $300,000. It was decided that although the current St. Paul’s was a much-beloved and beautiful building that had served Glenville Catholics since 1902, a new edifice should be built on the King Street property. The ever-increasing growth of the Catholic population in the area, plus traffic and parking conditions, and the prohibitive cost of renovating the existing structure, had made this decision a prudent ambition.

The Reverend Austin Saunders was assigned to St. Paul’s in October, 1959. During this period, work had continued on plans for the new Church. In 1961, with the approval of Bishop Sheehan, First Bishop of Bridgeport, Fr. Saunders announced that the new church for St. Paul’s Parish would be erected. Plans at this time called for a church, auditorium, and bell tower to be built. Before plans could be finalized, however, Bishop Sheehan was transferred and his replacement, The Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Second Bishop of Bridgeport made the decision to prioritize the building of schools in the diocese. Therefore, a decision was taken to construct a parochial school on the Glenville St. campus next to the original church. After the noon Mass on Sunday, March 10th, 1963, ground-breaking ceremonies were held for the new buildingl. It was built in Fr. Beaumister's courtyard between the Church and Rectory. Attending were Fr. Saunders, Pastor; Msgr. Nicholas Coleman, of St. Mary’s Stamford; John Handy, Architect; and Joseph Chimblo, Builder.

Classes for the first three grades commenced September, 1963, in the basement of the Church, staffed by the Sisters of the Resurrection. The first sisters on the faculty of the school were: Sr. Germaine, Principal and Superior, who taught first grade; Sr. Mary Colette, third grade; Sr. Mary Bernardine, second grade; and Sr. Peter Marie, Kindergarten. Construction of the split-level, white-brick school was completed in November 1963, and classes were moved to the new building, which contained eight classrooms and an auditorium to seat five hundred. The building still stands to this day.

The building was formally dedicated on Sunday, March 15, 1964, at 3:30 PM by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of Bridgeport. About four hundred parishioners and approximately forty religious leaders, led by the pastor, Fr. Saunders, attended the ceremonies.

Fr. Saunders was honored on Sunday, May 30, 1964, on the 25th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood. A Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by him at 12 Noon. The Very Reverend Jean C. Tetreault served as deacon, and the Reverend Philip W. Brady, as subdeacon. The Right Reverend Monsignor John H. Henderson, D.D., P.A., gave the sermon. Music was furnished by the senior and junior choir and the organist was Eugene Sabo. Speaker at the dinner held that evening in St. Paul’s School Hall was Mr. Thomas J. Deegan, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the New York World’s Fair, Mr. Richard Johann was General Chairman assisted by Co-Chairmen, Mr. Gerald Hoffkins and Mrs. Richard Longhi. Mr. Hugh McCormack was special gifts chairman. After eight years at St. Paul’s, Fr. Saunders was moved to St. Joseph’s Parish, Shelton. During his years in Glenville, Fr. Saunders’ main efforts were spent in the building and establishment of the parochial school and the acquisition of the convent.

Fr. Saunders was succeeded by the Reverend Boleslaus J. Rarus in August, 1967 after a devastating fire reduced the 65 year old church on Glenville St. to ashes in July 1967. Immediately, the school auditorium of the school became the location of Sunday Masses from July 1967 until December 1970. Fr. Rarus convoked a Lay Advisory Board to assist him in planning for the reconstruction of the Church. Parishioners were represented on the Board by the following members: Mr. Thomas Gillick, Mr. Frank Ceva, Mrs. Helen Myder, Mr. Bernard Krayeski, Mr. George Augustine, Mr. George Wolfert, and Mr. Alton Fox. One of the first duties of this Board was to draft a presentation to Bishop Curtis for plans to build a new church. The Bishop gave permission to build the new church on the King Street property, and in October, 1968, a capital funds drive was launched with Mr. Henry Imbres named as Chairman of the advance gifts phase, and Mr. Thomas Gillick Chairman of the memorial gifts phase.

A large number of parishioners and friends attended the ground-breaking ceremonies for the new St. Paul’s Church on Sunday, March 16, 1969, at 1:00 PM. Fr. Rarus blessed the land, spoke briefly, and wielded a ceremonial shovel, signaling the start of our new life at the corner of King Street and Sherwood Avenue, where we remain to this day. at the ceremony were the Reverend Edward Surwilo, Resident at St. Paul’s Church; the Reverend Casimir Szymanski, CM; Sr. M. Assumpta, CR, the Provincial of the Congregation of the Resurrection; Sr. Mary Catherine, CR, Superior and Principal of the school; the Architect, Joseph Chimblo; the Parish Trustees, Joseph A. Dietrich and James J. Clark; and the entire Lay Advisory Board. The children of the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades of St. Paul’s School, closed the program with the singing of the Te Deum, “Holy God We Praise Thy Name.”

Due to the restructuring of the Catholic schools  in the Diocese of Bridgeport, the first eighth grade graduating class of St. Paul's School was also the last, and Exercises were held on Sunday, June 21, 1970 . The children had been together since the opening of the school, at which time they were in the second grade. Through the efforts of the Home-School Association, awards were given to the graduates for scholastic achievements and three scholarships were given to students to continue their education in Catholic High Schools. Mark S. Mitchell was the valedictorian and Reverend William D. Donovan gave an address followed by the conferral of diplomas by the Pastor. Music was provided by John Herrmann, Organist, and the St. Paul’s Choir.

• Frank William Ceva
• Jane Maria Chrusz
• Nancy Anne Dean
• Leslie Marie Heithaus
• Deborah Anne Johann
• John Gimmell Kovach
• Linda Anne Kovach
• Mark Stephen Mitchell
• Gwen Elizabeth Oarr
• John Robert Piotti
• Michael John Sandor
• Charles Capel Smith, Jr.