St. Bernard Church (Rockville, Connecticut)

St.Bernard is a Roman Catholic church in Rockville, Connecticut, part of the Diocese of Norwich.

History

In 1848 the first Catholic Mass in Rockville CT was celebrated by 15 Catholics in a house owned by the Paper Mill Company.

By 1853 local growth of Catholicism was such that a larger facility was needed. Skinner Hall located over the Meat Market on Market St. became the last place to attend Mass before present site was acquired. In 1854 the Parish of St. Bernard was established with Rev. Peter Egan as the pastor and by 1856 the first church had been completed.

In 1904 the church was totally destroyed in a disastrous fire. The Town Hall was used as a temporary place of worship while the new church was under construction.

The cornerstone of the present St. Bernard’s Church was laid during a ceremony 5 months after the fire. Shortly thereafter the chapel in the basement was dedicated and used for Mass and other services until the upper church was completed. The new church was dedicated on September 20, 1908.

Buildings

St. Bernard Church, Rockville Connecticut
as seen from behind

The 1908 Gothic Revival church building was designed by noted church architect Joseph A. Jackson of New York. Jackson had already designed the parish school in 1895. The parish convent was designed by the firm of Whiton and McMahon of Hartford, Connecticut. All three buildings are listed as significant contributing properties of the City of Rockville Historic District.^[1]

Music

St. Bernard Church contains one of the earliest Austin organs Opus 205, 2 manuals and 8 ranks. The instrument deteriorated over time and in 2008 it gave way to a digital instrument built by the Rodgers Organ Company of Hillsboro, Oregon. The pipes from the original Austin organ have been retained and it is hoped that at some future time the new organ can be configured to make use of this historic instrument.

References

External links

• St. Bernard Catholic Church
• Diocese of Norwich

Coordinates: 41°52′04.55″N 72°26′45.27″W / 41.8679306°N 72.4459083°W / 41.8679306; -72.4459083