 |
 |
| St. Wendelin church and rectory, circa 1970 | St. Wendelin church, 1971 |
St. Wendelin, Carbon Center
St. Wendelin was founded in 1845 as a result of the arrival of German settlers in the area. In 1845, the community built a small log school and chapel. For the first few years, the chapel was used for locally organized prayer services. Beginning about 1851, priests from St. Philomena in Pittsburgh or St. Patrick in Sugar Creek occasionally visited the area and conducted services. The building was enlarged in 1857.
In 1863, St. Wendelin became a mission of St. Peter, Butler. In 1875 work was begun on a new, larger church to accommodate the growing congregation. This church was dedicated on January 16, 1876. In 1880, the Capuchin Fathers were assigned to minister to the parish. For many years, the Capuchins lived at the monastery in Herman, taught at St. Fidelis Seminary there and conducted services at the parish on weekends. Not until 1926 was the parish assigned a resident parish.
The church served the community for almost a century. On March 17, 1970, ground was broken for a new church. The cornerstone was laid on October 18, 1970 and the new church was dedicated on April 3, 1971.
|
|
| St. Wendelin church and rectory, circa 1970 | St. Wendelin church, 1971 |
Click here to find out how to purchase a copy of these pictures.
Return to Butler County Parishes Page