It begins in the Village of Dickinson's Landing, positioned on the banks of the St. Lawrence just west of the Long Sault Rapids. From
1784 with the coming of the Loyalists until 1842 when the Cornwall Canal was completed, the village served as an important and busy
transportation centre. Stagecoaches coming from the east round the Rapids and boats from the west unable to navigate the Rapids, transferred
passengers and goods here. The eleven-mile-long canal facilitated transportation and led to the decline of the village as a commercial
centre. However, the eight years of construction had brought a huge work force into the area, some of whom remained.
Most of
the new residents were Irish Catholics. A need for religious services arose. The area became a mission of St. Columban's in Cornwall.
A small frame chapel was erected and a burial ground opened.
By 1862, the Catholic population warranted the building of a larger
church. Rev. Dean O'Connor of St. Columban's supervised the erection of a church, 61 feet long by 30 feet wide, made of local brick.
The new church, named St. Patrick's was built on the north shore of the river at the head of the canal. On New Year's Day, 1863, Bishop
Horan of the Diocese of Kingston blessed the new structure.
For thirty-three years, the people of this mission church were under
the care of various priests from St. Columban's. After Rev. O'Connor, Rev. Lynch arrived in 1866; in 1871, Rev. Charles Murray; in
1889, Rev. Donald McCrae, in 1890, Rev. George Corbet, assisted by Rev. Ronald MacDonald.
At some point during these years the
name St. Patrick was changed to Our Lady of Grace. Local legend has it that one of the above named priests, having seen New York's
St. Patrick's Cathedral, felt that the great Saint's name should not be used for such a humble edifice. The new name chosen was in
honour of Our Lady.
Mille Roches
During Fr. Corbet's tenure, a second chapel was built in Mille Roches, a village six miles
west of Cornwall. Here, since the enlargement of the Cornwall Canal began in 1972, the village was growing in numbers. A large limestone
quarry was active and a power station was planned. The growing Catholic populations collected $250.00 to begin construction and in
1891, the first Mass was sung in the new chapel named the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
With the two churches, the mission status ended
and a resident priest, Rev. D.A. Campbell was appointed in 1896. His first work was to build a mission chapel in Farran's Point, six
miles west of the Landing. This small brick building, 34' X 23', named Our Lady of the Rosary, was dedicated on October 4, 1896, by
the first Bishop of Alexandria, the most Rev. Alexander MacDonnell. Fr. Campbell also supervised the construction of a parish rectory,
a square brick building north of the church in Dickinson's Landing. A tower and spire was added to the church making it a guide for
eastbound ships entering the canal.
From 1900 until Word War I, three priests administered to the parish: in 1900, Rev. Donald
D. MacMillan; in 1902, Rev. Terence Fitzpatrick; in 1906, Rev. Albert McCrae. From 1914 for ten years, Rev. Corbet McCrae was pastor.
Completing church interiors, landscaping church grounds and improving the cemetery were advancements during these years.
During
the early Twenties, the names of the two chapels were changed. Our Lady of the Rosary in Farran's Point became St. Francis of Assisi;
the Sacred heart of Jesus, Mille Roches, became St. George's. Two larger churches in the diocese were granted the earlier names by
Bishop Felix Couturier.
From 1924 to 1936, Rev. J.F. Dulin served as pastor. He introduced lawn socials and sponsored lacrosse
and hockey teams. During the early years of the Depression, these activities helped financially and more so in a social sense.
In
the one year of his pastorage, Rev. Donald A. McPhee was responsible for having the women of the parish apply for their charter membership
in the Catholic Women's League in 1936, an organization which has remained a strong force in the parish for fifty-four years.
For
the next three years, Rev. James Wylie was the parish priest. He was followed in 1940 by Rev. Ewen MacDonald who, after one year,
joined the local S.D.G. Highlanders as overseas chaplain. During the next three years, Rev. John McPhail was interim pastor until
Fr. MacDonald's return in 1944. Having reached his sixtieth birthday, Fr. Ewen was retired from active service by the Army, a step
he felt was most unnecessary. In 1947, Fr. McPhail returned for the next three years; music and plays were activities binding the
people of the parish.
The years from 1900 to 1955 were a time of slow growth and small finances. Two Wars and a major Depression
made it difficult for a limited number of families to support three churches. Income derived from farming, mill work, lock and riverboat
employment, or small trades made for scant cash surpluses. However, the congregation remained steadfast. During World War II, many
young men and a few women enrolled in the armed services, many seeing overseas duty. Three from Our Lady of Grace paid the supreme
sacrifice, dying on active duty.
The St. Lawrence Seaway and Ontario Hydro Projects
By 1955, the three waterfront communities
were facing the ultimate change in that they were to disappear under the waters of a man-made lake. The combined Seaway and Hydro
projects were finally, after fifty years of planning, taking place. The actual work began August 10, 1954, on the feast day of St.
Lawrence, and the 420th anniversary of the river being named by Jacques Cartier. Four years later, on July 1, 1958, the flooding of
the area brought the actual end to seven villages with homes, schools and churches, which included Our Lady of Grace, St. George's
and St. Francis of Assisi.
The upheaval of the transition period for parishioners meant settling with Ontario Hydro, choosing
a new home site, moving and in some cases, seeking fresh employment. For a pastor these duties were doubled in scope as two churches,
one in each of the new towns of Ingleside and Long Sault were to be built. As well, for the fist time, two separate schools were to
be established. The intricacies of Hydro negotiation, planning and meeting the requirements of the Department of Education as well
as administering to the emotional and religious needs of a congregation under stress required a most unusual priest. Fortunately,
such a man was present in Rev. Michael O'Brien, assisted by Fr. Sylvestre Theoret and a dedicated group of parishioners. Four turbulent
years resulted in the new churches and schools of Our Lady of Grace and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Ingleside; and Pius X and St.
George's in Long Sault.
May 12, 1957, was a landmark day in the parish when Most Rev. Rosario Brodeur dedicated Our Lady of
Grace, blessing the new altar site, steeple cross and bell, and cornerstone. Later the same day, the sod was turned for the church
in Long Sault where the new name of Pius X was to be used.
In 1961, Father O'Brien, after six years of yeoman service, was replaced
by Father Hollis Lapierre. A forerunner in the changes to come, Fr. Lapierre always fostered a spirit of ecumenism, the highlight
being Midnight Mass in 1963, when an ecumenical choir sang St. Basil's Mass. The English Mass with Father Lapierre facing the congregation
came early in 1965. Shortly after the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination, Fr. Lapierre died suddenly and peacefully on May
24, 1975.
Rev. Thomas Villeneuve assumed his duties in September 1975, and served an expanding parish until 1983. Rev. Bernard
Cameron served as pastor until 1988 when the encumbent pastor, Rev. Kevin Maloney arrived.
Rev. Thomas Swift, a resident in
the area, has fortunately acted as assistant during the past ten years. In 1958, the first ordination in the parish, that of Rev.
Kenneth Martin, took place. On May 26, 1985, a second parishioner, Rev. Mark Fairthorne celebrated his first Mass in his home church.
During the past two decades, Our Lady of Grace-Pius X has grown to 325 families - a vibrant parish. History will honor them as a parish
of strong faith, of progressive people and a congregation proud of its parish.