Church History
The parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in 1838. On April 24th, 1838, Alfred B. Allen of Colchester, Vt., conveyed a plot of land about ten rods square, located on the westerly side of what is now known as Weybridge St., to be used for the erection of a Catholic church. Father Daley began construction of the original brick church in 1839.
After Father Daley's departure in 1854, the 400 parishioners of St. Mary's were served by clergy from Burlington until 1855 when Father Pecart was assigned. Prior to his appointment, Bishop Louis de Geosbriand took charge and continued the construction of the church.
Fr. Pecart (1860-1866) became the first rector of Middlebury attending Vergennes on alternate Sundays. During his administration, the church bell, cast in Sheffield, England and still in use in our present church, was installed.
In 1866, Rev. P. Cunningham became pastor also serving the missions of Vergennes, Shoreham, Bristol and Monkton. In 1868 he enlarged the church by the addition of a chancel, sacristy and choir gallery.
On July 17, 1869, Nathan and Harriet Myrick conveyed by deed to the Bishop for the parish, the house located at what is now 326 College St. with about thirteen acres of land abutting the old church lot on the northeast. This house still serves as the priest's residence.
The next rector, Rev. E.R. Moloney (1881-1886), purchased the Catholic cemetery which adjoins Middlebury Town cemetery off what is now called Hillcrest St.
During the administration of Rev. Henry Lane (1886-1899), extensive renovations were made to the rectory and, for the first time, the original parish debt was retired.
Soon after the arrival of Rev. Jerome M. Gelot (1892-1899), plans for the new marble church on the parish lot east of the rectory were completed and construction began. The cornerstone was blessed in July, 1896 by Rt. Rev. John S. Michaud, Coadjutor Bishop of Burlington.
After Father Daley's departure in 1854, the 400 parishioners of St. Mary's were served by clergy from Burlington until 1855 when Father Pecart was assigned. Prior to his appointment, Bishop Louis de Geosbriand took charge and continued the construction of the church.
Fr. Pecart (1860-1866) became the first rector of Middlebury attending Vergennes on alternate Sundays. During his administration, the church bell, cast in Sheffield, England and still in use in our present church, was installed.
In 1866, Rev. P. Cunningham became pastor also serving the missions of Vergennes, Shoreham, Bristol and Monkton. In 1868 he enlarged the church by the addition of a chancel, sacristy and choir gallery.
On July 17, 1869, Nathan and Harriet Myrick conveyed by deed to the Bishop for the parish, the house located at what is now 326 College St. with about thirteen acres of land abutting the old church lot on the northeast. This house still serves as the priest's residence.
The next rector, Rev. E.R. Moloney (1881-1886), purchased the Catholic cemetery which adjoins Middlebury Town cemetery off what is now called Hillcrest St.
During the administration of Rev. Henry Lane (1886-1899), extensive renovations were made to the rectory and, for the first time, the original parish debt was retired.
Soon after the arrival of Rev. Jerome M. Gelot (1892-1899), plans for the new marble church on the parish lot east of the rectory were completed and construction began. The cornerstone was blessed in July, 1896 by Rt. Rev. John S. Michaud, Coadjutor Bishop of Burlington.
From 1899
Rev. James D. Shannon (1899-1913) was responsible for freeing the parish of a second debt and deciding to add eighteen feet to the length of the original plans of the church on College hill because of the increase in the number of parishioners. Owing to inclement weather and lack of funds, the stone work was not completed until late in the summer of 1903. On December 19. 1903, the last Mass was celebrated in the old brick church. By transferring its pews, altar and other furnishings to the basement of the new church, it was possible to have Mass offered there on Sunday, December 20, 1903.
On September 1, 1907, the upper church was completed and the first Mass was celebrated in it. The stained glass windows were installed in 1909, the stations of the cross on April 7, 1911 and the Estey pipe organ dedicated on April 3, 1910.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was dedicated on September 15, 1912 by Bishop Joseph Rice. At the time there were 12-1300 parishioners with about 850 communicants.
Fr. Thomas J. Leonard (1913-1947), who succeeded Fr. Shannon, paid off a third parish debt and purchased the Eddy House on 8 Weybridge St. This is now called Villa Maria. In 1947 Father Leonard retired after 34 years as pastor of St. Mary's. Both his successors, Father Harold Barrett (1949-1956) and Father John P. Mahoney (1956-1968), made various improvements to the interior of the church. But it was under Father John M. Shortill, appointed pastor in 1968, that the church was renovated in line with the new liturgical guidelines set by Vatican II. On February 27, 1972, Bishop Marshall came down from Burlington to bless the newly renovated church.
In 1940, St. Mary's Elementary School was erected on Shannon St. and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy who were housed in Villa Maria Convent. August 25 was the dedication day and Bishop Brady came down from Burlington for the ceremonies. Classes opened on September 3 with 200 students taught by six Sisters of Mercy. The children came from Middlebury as well as the surrounding towns of Cornwall and Weybridge. The school closed in 1970 due to the lack of teaching Sisters and the high cost of operation. By the grace of God and dedication of the parishioners of St. Mary's, the school reopened in 1998.
In recent years the church has been redecorated twice, once in 1937 marking the parish centennial and again in 1972 in order that it might conform to the new norms of Vatican Council II. A Wessel pipe organ replaced the original organ and was dedicated on Sunday, April 1, 1984. The church was redecorated again in 1987 and 1988 as part of the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Father Daley's appointment as pastor.
Father Shortill retired on June 17, 1984 after sixteen years of dedicated work and was succeeded by Msgr. Paul M. Bresnehan. In 1987, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the parish, Msgr. Bresnehan oversaw the redecorating of the interior of the church.
During his tenure, Msgr. Bresnehan saw to the spiritual needs of the parish on many levels. He possessed a great sense of dedication and devotion to the parish and was widely involved in ecumenical efforts.
Father John McDermott (now Monsignor) arrived at Saint Mary's in 1996 as Pastor. During his tenure a Capital Campaign was initiated and successfully completed. It was also during Msgr. McDermott's time that St. Mary's School was reopened. He served at Saint Mary's from 1996-2001.
Father Justin Baker arrived at St. Mary's in 2003. Father Baker's ministry was marked by a great dedication to all parish life but especially St. Mary's School. Father Baker served at Saint Mary's from 2003-2008.
Father William R. Beaudin was appointed Pastor in June of 2008.
On September 1, 1907, the upper church was completed and the first Mass was celebrated in it. The stained glass windows were installed in 1909, the stations of the cross on April 7, 1911 and the Estey pipe organ dedicated on April 3, 1910.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was dedicated on September 15, 1912 by Bishop Joseph Rice. At the time there were 12-1300 parishioners with about 850 communicants.
Fr. Thomas J. Leonard (1913-1947), who succeeded Fr. Shannon, paid off a third parish debt and purchased the Eddy House on 8 Weybridge St. This is now called Villa Maria. In 1947 Father Leonard retired after 34 years as pastor of St. Mary's. Both his successors, Father Harold Barrett (1949-1956) and Father John P. Mahoney (1956-1968), made various improvements to the interior of the church. But it was under Father John M. Shortill, appointed pastor in 1968, that the church was renovated in line with the new liturgical guidelines set by Vatican II. On February 27, 1972, Bishop Marshall came down from Burlington to bless the newly renovated church.
In 1940, St. Mary's Elementary School was erected on Shannon St. and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy who were housed in Villa Maria Convent. August 25 was the dedication day and Bishop Brady came down from Burlington for the ceremonies. Classes opened on September 3 with 200 students taught by six Sisters of Mercy. The children came from Middlebury as well as the surrounding towns of Cornwall and Weybridge. The school closed in 1970 due to the lack of teaching Sisters and the high cost of operation. By the grace of God and dedication of the parishioners of St. Mary's, the school reopened in 1998.
In recent years the church has been redecorated twice, once in 1937 marking the parish centennial and again in 1972 in order that it might conform to the new norms of Vatican Council II. A Wessel pipe organ replaced the original organ and was dedicated on Sunday, April 1, 1984. The church was redecorated again in 1987 and 1988 as part of the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Father Daley's appointment as pastor.
Father Shortill retired on June 17, 1984 after sixteen years of dedicated work and was succeeded by Msgr. Paul M. Bresnehan. In 1987, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the parish, Msgr. Bresnehan oversaw the redecorating of the interior of the church.
During his tenure, Msgr. Bresnehan saw to the spiritual needs of the parish on many levels. He possessed a great sense of dedication and devotion to the parish and was widely involved in ecumenical efforts.
Father John McDermott (now Monsignor) arrived at Saint Mary's in 1996 as Pastor. During his tenure a Capital Campaign was initiated and successfully completed. It was also during Msgr. McDermott's time that St. Mary's School was reopened. He served at Saint Mary's from 1996-2001.
Father Justin Baker arrived at St. Mary's in 2003. Father Baker's ministry was marked by a great dedication to all parish life but especially St. Mary's School. Father Baker served at Saint Mary's from 2003-2008.
Father William R. Beaudin was appointed Pastor in June of 2008.
