a brief history of saint patrick catholic church
coalton, wv
The beginnings of Saint Patrick Church can be traced back to 1858-59 when the Irish Catholic settlers first came into this section of Randolph County to settle down with their families and establish a life among the hills of West Virginia.
After their homes were built, they began to make plans for a Catholic Church and to secure a priest to minister to their spiritual needs and celebrate the Sacraments.
A visiting priest, Father Stack of Staunton, VA, was the first priest to occasionally come to celebrate Mass in the log cabin of Patrick Flanagan. Following Father Stack, other priests over the years visited the settlement which later would become known as Kingsville, WV.
The first resident priest, Father Dacey, died shortly after his arrival, followed by Father Michael Fitzpatrick who directed the clearing of land and the building of a little log church, the first church to be built in Randolph County. Later, as the congregation grew, a larger church with a rectory was built on a beautiful site in Kingsville, WV.
Along with many other little Mission churches, Father Fitzpatrick oversaw the beginning of the construction of a new Mission Church in Coalton, which of course is St. Patrick Church.
After his twenty-eight-year pastorate, Father Fitzpatrick was succeeded by Father William Sauer, who in his short one year stay, completed the building of St. Patrick’s.
After their homes were built, they began to make plans for a Catholic Church and to secure a priest to minister to their spiritual needs and celebrate the Sacraments.
A visiting priest, Father Stack of Staunton, VA, was the first priest to occasionally come to celebrate Mass in the log cabin of Patrick Flanagan. Following Father Stack, other priests over the years visited the settlement which later would become known as Kingsville, WV.
The first resident priest, Father Dacey, died shortly after his arrival, followed by Father Michael Fitzpatrick who directed the clearing of land and the building of a little log church, the first church to be built in Randolph County. Later, as the congregation grew, a larger church with a rectory was built on a beautiful site in Kingsville, WV.
Along with many other little Mission churches, Father Fitzpatrick oversaw the beginning of the construction of a new Mission Church in Coalton, which of course is St. Patrick Church.
After his twenty-eight-year pastorate, Father Fitzpatrick was succeeded by Father William Sauer, who in his short one year stay, completed the building of St. Patrick’s.
The church building became known for its unusually beautiful interior and design, the first of its kind for a small country church in all of Randolph County. The church building was dedicated in 1903 by the then Bishop of Wheeling, WV, Bishop Donahue.
Later there would be a Father Hall, followed by Father John H. Corcoran who used his fluency in Italian to minister to the Italian immigrants who settled in the area.
Later there would be a Father Hall, followed by Father John H. Corcoran who used his fluency in Italian to minister to the Italian immigrants who settled in the area.
Then in 1917, Father James Kennedy arrived and remained until 1924, when he was succeeded by Father Davern who was pastor of St. Patrick for twenty-five years.
Father Davern was followed by Father Rauth, who accepted a new Wurlitzer Organ for the parish, donated by the DeMotto Brothers Coal Company, which was dedicated and blessed.
Following Father Rauth was Father Patrick J. Keating, Father Robert J. Rooney, Father D.J. Donovan, Father Benedict Mahon, and Father Joseph Amnesi, who helped build the St. Patrick Parish Hall, which is now the home of the Nationally Acclaimed Spaghetti Dinner, held biannually the first Sunday of May and third Sunday of October.
Next came Father Raymond Rodzeita, Father Leon Ruby, Father Richard Shoda, who was a temporary administrator for a brief time in 1979, Father Mark Krause, and Father William Anderson.
On July 15, 1983, Father James McCafferty became a much, loved pastor of St. Patrick where he would faithfully carry out his ministry until January 18, 1996, when he was briefly succeeded by Father Albert Anselmi, then followed by Father Roy Schuster, a Capuchin Franciscan Friar.
Following Father Rauth was Father Patrick J. Keating, Father Robert J. Rooney, Father D.J. Donovan, Father Benedict Mahon, and Father Joseph Amnesi, who helped build the St. Patrick Parish Hall, which is now the home of the Nationally Acclaimed Spaghetti Dinner, held biannually the first Sunday of May and third Sunday of October.
Next came Father Raymond Rodzeita, Father Leon Ruby, Father Richard Shoda, who was a temporary administrator for a brief time in 1979, Father Mark Krause, and Father William Anderson.
On July 15, 1983, Father James McCafferty became a much, loved pastor of St. Patrick where he would faithfully carry out his ministry until January 18, 1996, when he was briefly succeeded by Father Albert Anselmi, then followed by Father Roy Schuster, a Capuchin Franciscan Friar.
Father Schuster was followed by Father Giles LeVasuer, again a most loved pastor, who was followed by Father Tom Dagle, Father William Anderson, Father Eric Antwi, and Father Don Higgs. Father Higgs was succeeded by Father Mark Gallipeau who died, after a brief illness, and is buried in the Catholic Cemetary at St. Brendan Church in Elkins.
Father John “Chapin” Engler, who is still remembered with much love and gratitude, succeeded Father Gallipeau after his death. On June 20, 2018, Father Chapin was appointed by the Bishop Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Dunbar, Holy Trinity Parish in Nitro, and Saint Patrick Mission in Bancroft where he continues to serve as Pastor. The Rev. James E. O’Connor, known as Father Jim, succeeded Father "Chapin" and is our current pastor.
Father John “Chapin” Engler, who is still remembered with much love and gratitude, succeeded Father Gallipeau after his death. On June 20, 2018, Father Chapin was appointed by the Bishop Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Dunbar, Holy Trinity Parish in Nitro, and Saint Patrick Mission in Bancroft where he continues to serve as Pastor. The Rev. James E. O’Connor, known as Father Jim, succeeded Father "Chapin" and is our current pastor.
On Sunday, September 28, 2018, St. Patrick Parish celebrated their 100th anniversary with a Special Mass for parishioners and guests, celebrated by Father Jim and 5 other priests and followed by catered dinner in the Parish Hall.
In 2022 the St. Patrick Parish Hall underwent a renovation and expansion project which saw the hall increased in size with new flooring, fixtures, new bathrooms, and improved handicapped accessibility, ready to serve the parish and the Coalton community into the coming years.
St. Patrick Catholic Church and Parish looks forward to future and completing the next 100 years!
St. Patrick Catholic Church and Parish looks forward to future and completing the next 100 years!
(C)2024 Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Coalton WV