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Updated: October 15, 2004
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St. Patrick’s Church, Ferguson’s Falls, 1856 – 2004
In January of 1819, Father Alexander Macdonell was named by Pope Leo XII as auxiliary Bishop of Quebec (the only diocese in Canada at the time), with responsibility for Upper Canada. On January 27, 1826, Kingston was erected as a Diocese, an historic moment as it was the first Roman Catholic diocese established in the British Empire since the 16th century Reformation. The event was historic, too, insofar as all other dioceses in Ontario have their origin, directly or indirectly, from the diocese of Kingston.
Ferguson Falls itself, originally called Milford, was established in 1820 when Catholics from Ireland first settled the community. Before the church was built, they would travel to Perth for the celebration of Mass. In 1856, the church at Ferguson Falls was built. Oral tradition says that it was first constructed on land opposite the home of one of the original settlers, John Quinn, and one or two years later, it was moved to its present location, on an acre of land donated by Mr. Edward Connors. A vestry was added and the church was named in honour of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick’s was the twenty fourth church to be built within the present borders of the Archdiocese of Kingston, giving it status as one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in Ontario. It is a solidly constructed frame church, seventy-five feet long and thirty feet wide, on a stone foundation, framed with large beams and with a white clapboard exterior. The attractive interior of the church was originally plaster and is now fiberboard painted white and installed in a way that enhances the gothic-style windows and the rounded, twelve foot high ceiling.
John Quinn was the first person to be buried in the cemetery beside the church. Prior to the establishment of the cemetery, bodies were carried to Perth for burial in the Catholic section of “The Old Burying Ground”. After the establishment of St. Patrick’s cemetery, some were brought back for burial at St. Patrick’s.
In 1884 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Carleton Place was established and St. Patrick’s became a mission of that church. The church in Lanark was established as a mission church in 1903 named after the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When Sacred Heart became a parish in 1907, St. Patrick’s was transferred to become a mission of that parish, which it remains today.
The Early Years: 1820
The area around Ferguson Falls was settled by those of European origin or descent around 1820. Among the names featured in the annals of the early years are those of seven Irish-Catholic bachelors: James Carberry, John Cullen, Terrence Doyle, James Power, John Quinn, Patrick Quinn and William Scanlan. Before leaving Ireland, they had pledged to stick together through thick and thin. Soon after their arrival in Perth, the "Seven Irishmen", as they came to be called, secured a block of land in the ninth and tenth concessions of Lanark Township, two miles north of Millford (Ferguson Falls). Here they settled, farmed and, eventually, married.
The village of Ferguson Falls, founded in 1820, experienced relatively rapid growth. Its location was a primary factor, for it was situated on the Mississippi River and was the setting for log drives on the river, mills along the shore, and ox-carts with travellers en route to Bytown (Ottawa).
Faith was important to the early Catholic settlers of Ferguson Falls. The link between them and the Church was maintained and strengthened by their prayer life at home, their participation in Mass and the sacraments in St. Bridget's Church in Perth, and by regular visits to stations in the area by Father Lamothe and Father Sweeney (prior to 1823), Father John Macdonald (1823 to 1838), and Father John H. McDonagh.
Oral tradition, as related in a recent history dealing with the County of Lanark,22 indicates that Bishop Macdonell used to visit the Ferguson Falls' area on occasion. This same history makes reference to the admiration with which Upper Canada's pioneer settlers regarded him, and to the honours bestowed on him by Protestants and Catholics alike.
Churches Built
During the pastorate of Father McDonagh (1838-66), several churches were erected in St. John the Baptist Parish. These included St. John the Baptist Church in Perth (1848) and St. Patrick's Church, Ferguson Falls (circa 1856). With regard to St. Patrick's, there is uncertainty about two related details: first, the original location of the church and, secondly, the precise year when it was built.
Original Location
It has been the understanding of some long established families of the area that the church was originally constructed two miles north of the village of Ferguson Falls, on the farm of John Quinn, an original settler, and that it was moved to its present site on Lot 1, Concession 8, of the Township of Lanark, a year or two after construction. As with so many oral traditions, no matter how well founded, there is no written documentation available in support of it. Nor has any record been found indicating that part of the Quinn farm was ever deeded to the Diocese of Kingston.
Memorandum of Father O'Donohue
Insights into the early years of St. Patrick's Church have recently come to light in a memorandum in the files of Sacred Heart Rectory, Lanark. The memorandum, written by Father Michael O'Donohue and dated the day he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church, Carleton Place, and its mission of St. Patrick's contains the following information:
| The Roman Catholic Chapel which now crowns the
brow of the lofty hill that skirts the north-easterly shore of the Mississippi
River running through the village of Ferguson's Falls, was erected there
about the beginning of the year 1854, according to the most reliable information
that can now be obtained on this 24th day of September, 1884. It was so far
completed that season that it could be used for the celebration of Mass and,
later on, after some additional repairs had been put upon it, this chapel
was solemnly dedicated to the Service of God, under the invocation of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, by the late Rt. Rev'd Bishop Horan of Kingston,
assisted by the Very Rev'd Vicar General McDonagh, Pastor of Perth, and the
Rev'd Father O'Connell of Richmond, Ont., on the 3rd September, 1858. It
remained in that condition until the month of July, 1883, when the then Pastor
of Perth - in whose circuit "Ferguson's Falls" was included at that date
- the Rev'd J. S. O'Connor, had it finally completed as it now stands. |
There follow several pages containing the names of those who had contributed to the "Subscription for Repairs on the Chapel at Ferguson Falls" between the dates of July 8, 1883, and September 24, 1884.
Although the memorandum adds to our general knowledge of St. Patrick's, it does not clear up the uncertainties. The precise year when St. Patrick's Church was constructed remains a mystery. Local histories written during the past forty years designate the year 1856,24 whereas Father O'Donohue's memorandum specifies 1854, "according to the most reliable information". It seems probable that the latter date is incorrect, at least as far as the present location of the church is concerned. Records in the Lanark County Registry Office in Almonte indicate that the acre of land which is the site of St. Patrick's Cemetery and Church was donated by Edward Connors and deeded to the Episcopal Corporation of the Diocese of Kingston on June 6, 1856. Other sources indicate that churches were not ordinarily constructed or located on a site prior to the land being deeded to the diocese. It would therefore seem likely that 1856 was the year when the church was established on its present site.
Also, the memorandum indicates that St. Patrick's Chapel (as it was evidently called at the time) was erected (not placed) there (on the brow of the lofty hill). There is no reference to the church being constructed earlier on another site.
More definitive evidence regarding this matter may surface in the future. Meanwhile, the uncertainty as to the original location and the year of construction of the church remains.
Description of St. Patrick's Church
St. Patrick's is a solidly-constructed frame church, seventy-five feet long and thirty feet wide, on a stone foundation, framed with large beams, and with a white, clapboard exterior. It is said that the beams and lumber for the church were cut on the farm of original settler William Scanlan." A tower, thirty feet in height and topped by a cross, forms the entrance and foyer of the church. The sacristy is located in a wing to the right of the sanctuary. The attractive interior of the main body of the church is fibreboard (installed in 1951 to replace earlier plaster)," painted white, and installed in a way that enhances the gothic-style windows and the rounded, twelve-foot ceiling. It is probable that the church was built largely through volunteer labour, since this was the case in the construction of most churches of that era.
Blessing and Dedication: September 3, 1858
St. Patrick’s was the twenty-fourth church to be constructed within the present borders of the Archdiocese of Kingston, giving it status as on e of the older Roman Catholic churches in Ontario. Records in the parish of Perth describe the blessing of the church in these words:
| On the third of September, 1858, the undersigned
Bishop of Kingston dedicated to the service of Almighty God, under the invocation
of St. Patrick, the church at Ferguson's Falls in the Township of Lanark,
in the presence of Very Rev. J.H. McDonagh, V.G. of Perth, Rev. P. O'Connell
of Richmond and a great concourse of the faithful. |
J. H. McDonagh V. G.
The church was well appreciated by the Catholics of the surrounding townships, who are said to have filled it each Sunday to the point of standing room only. People came from the areas in and around the villages of Lanark and McDonald's Corners, respectively seven and sixteen miles to the west. They also came from the area above the "floating bridge" at Clayton Lake, in the Township of Lanark, eight miles north of Ferguson Falls.
The Floating Bridge
The area to the north and east of Clayton Lake in the Township of Ramsay is situated eight miles west of the town of Almonte. From the early 1840s, Catholics in Ramsay Township attended Mass in St. Mary's Church, Almonte, built as a mission church of Perth in 1842 and, from 1847, part of the newly established Diocese of Ottawa. There were sufficient Catholics in that area to warrant the establishment of a cemetery, located one mile north of the village of Clayton, in 1862 it was initially used for Catholics of that community, but later, during the years between 1873 and 1884, became the parish cemetery of St. Mary's Church, Almonte.
Other Catholic settlers, mainly Irish, to the west of Clayton Lake 29 in the Township of Lanark were within the Diocese of Kingston. They wished to attend Mass in St. Patrick's Church, not only because it was their designated church but also because it was considerably closer and more convenient for them than the trek to Almonte. A major obstacle stood in their way, however. Clayton Lake, Taylor Lake to the west, and the thousand-foot-wide river linking them combined to prevent access to the route south to Ferguson Falls.
A solution was found. There is some slight variation in the oral tradition describing how the solution, the "floating bridge", came to be. One explanation is that the local community petitioned the Government of Ontario for money to build the bridge. Their request is said to have met with success and the bridge was built. Another account indicates that the initial bridge was constructed through the volunteer efforts of local men. Whatever the true details, the floating bridge came into existence, and access to St. Patrick's Church became possible.
The first bridge, said to have been constructed in the late 1850s, could be crossed only by foot. The 1877 floating bridge was wider and sturdier. Reports indicate, however, that even with the ongoing reinforcement and replacement of timbers it was a significant challenge to negotiate the bridge, either by horse-drawn vehicle or by automobile. The historic bridge was closed in 1944.