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St. Patrick's Catholic Mission Church was one of five mission churches built by Father Louis Dumortier, a well-known frontier missionary. Operating out of St. Mary's Indian Mission, Father Dumortier's work on the Kansas frontier began in 1859 and continued until his death in July 1867.
Father Dumortier arrived at the Irish settlement known as Chapman's Creek in August, 1859. An earlier St. Mary's missionary, Father Ignatius Maes, discovered the settlement sometime before and organized sporadic services in the log cabins of John Erwin and Michael Hogan. Father Dumortier con- tinued these services. Indians attended the Masses and in 1859 an Indian baby named Magdelena was one of the settlement's first baptisms.
Soon after his arrival to Chapman's Creek, Father Dumortier made plans for a permanent church. He received stanch support for his project raising a sum of $700 which was considered a fortune in those days. Mrs. Innocent Ryan, a widow, headed the contribution list giving $100 to the cause. Other subscribers were John Erwin, Michael Hogan, Patrick Deane, Thomas Howe, James Howe, Michael Howe, John Nash, John Lundigan, Michael Ryan, Con Ryan, Patrick Ryan, William Delaney, Michael Lenaham, Patrick Hartigan, Pat Sheeran, and Mike Kelly.
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We Value our Past
1859 St. Patrick Mission Church organized
1861 St. Patrick Mission Church construction begins
1866 St. Patrick Mission Church construction completed
1880 St. Michael Mission church construction begins
1882 St. Michael Mission church cornerstone laid
1883 St. Michael Mission Church dedicated
1886 St. Michael Church becomes a parish
1888 Parish house constructed
1892 Stained glass windows installed in church
1906 Knights of Columbus charter membership
1912 Bell tower added to church
1925 Daughters of Isabella charter membership
1931 St. Patrick church restored
1961 St. Michael church renovation completed
1966 Parish Center constructed
1987 St. Patrick listed on National Register of Historic Places
1990 Daughters of Isabella joined with St. Andrew's in Abilene
1991 Parish House first floor renovation completed
1994 Parish house second floor renovation completed
1998 St. Michael church renovation completed
2000 Parish Center renovation begins
2000 Scanlan stained glass window restored and placed in parish
center
2004 Front facade of church renovated with Celtic Cross and brass
history plaque
2007 24 flag poles erected along driveway of St. Patrick's Cemetery
2008 Parish Center renovation completed
2008 Tornado damages church, house, parish center and cemetery
and destroys St. Patrick's Chapel
2008 Due to loss of schools, 4 modulars moved on church property
used for kindergarten, first, second, and third grade classes
2008 Parish Center used for fourth grade, music, office, lunchroom,
physical education and support services
2010 Repair and replacement of Stained Glass Windows destroyed
or damaged from tornado completed
2010 St. Patrick's Chapel memorial completed
2010 Remodel of parish house front porch completed
2010 Remaining stained glass windows re-leaded
2011 Chapman Grade School leaves parish center
2011 Two modular units purchased from Chapman School District
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St. Patrick Church placed on National Register of Historic Places 1987 |
St. Patrick Memorial completed 2010 |
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St. Michael's between 1883 & 1912 |
St. Michael's 2010 |
Pictures provided by Jan McCormick
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