St. Agnes - Closed January 2025

Officially opened in 1958, St. Agnes Parish is located at 52 Croydon St.

Photo: Breaking Ground at St. Agnes Parish
with Bishop John C. Cody

St. Agnes parish was established by Bishop John C. Cody in July 1957 to relieve the overcrowding at Blessed Sacrament Church.  Rev. Douglas F. Boyer was the first pastor.  The first Mass was held in the Pines Chapel on Grand Avenue July 14, 1957.   The boundaries of the parish were the Thames River on the south, St. Clair St. on the east, the 11th concession of Dover on the north and Bear Line on the west.  Land on Croyden St. was purchased from Mrs. Mary Genevieve Fidler for $2.00 in October of 1957.  A private home at 241 Grand Avenue West was purchased as a rectory and chapel, the property immediately behind being the site of the new church.  The Rt. Rev. A.E. O’Donnell, Dean of Kent, along with Father Boyer participated in the sod turning for the new church Feb. 20, 1958.  The cost of the building was $115,500.  The first Mass was held in the building in August of 1958.  Bishop Cody blessed the new St. Agnes Church November 23, 1958.

The first baptism recorded in the  St. Agnes Parish Register was October 20, 1957. The first marriage was February 15, 1958.  The first funeral was June 13, 1958.

Father Girard replaced Father Boyer in 1959.  The parish continued to grow.  In the nine years he was pastor of St. Agnes, Father Morand encouraged the parishioners to pay off the debt.  Once the parish was free of debt,  plans were made for renovations.  Stained glass windows were installed under the guidance of Father Bagatto, who came to St. Agnes in 1974.  Memorial plates beneath the windows testify to the generosity of parishioners. 

Father Hurley became the pastor in 1979.  The parish and the parish team continued to expand requiring a new rectory/office, a larger church, air exchange and air conditioning and meeting rooms and nursery in the basement.  Construction began in the Spring of 1981 and was almost completed by the end of the year.  The old rectory was demolished.  St. Agnes was in debt for $500,000.  St. Agnes Knights of Columbus Council #8739 received it’s charter on May 2, 1984.  During Father John Sharp’s one-year stay the parking lot was paved.

During Father Al Momney ministry a Vision Statement was developed by the Pastoral Council.  In 1992 a new music system was installed with organ, key board and speakers.
   
Father Mel MacIssac became pastor in 1995.  In 1997 St. Agnes celebrated being debt free.  The parish acquired an FM system for those who have difficulty hearing.  An elevator was installed in 1998. 
   
Signing for the deaf at one of the Masses each weekend as been a practice at St. Agnes since the early 1980's. 
   
Under Father Andrew Kowalczyk’s ministry, renovations to the kitchen in the basement were completed in 2002 in time for the parish to host delegates to World Youth Day in Toronto.  A number of youth from Nunavut along with their bishop, priests and sisters and delegates from Mexico were accommodated within the parish.  Presently a soup kitchen makes use of the kitchen facilities once a week.

Father Terrence R. McNamara (2005-2006) succeeded Father Kowalczyk on June 30, 2005, the same year in which a Wellness Ministry was initiated.  With 1,000 registered families, St. Agnes is described as "a vibrant and active parish striving to meet the needs of all."

On June 30, 2008 Blessed Sacrament Parish was clustered with St. Agnes Parish and Father Daniel Bombardier was appointed Pastor of Blessed Sacrament & St. Agnes Parish Cluster. On  July 16, 2009 Blessed Sacrament Parish Office was re-located to the St. Agnes Site.

On July 2, 2015 Father James “Jim” Higgins was appointed Administrator of Blessed Sacrament and St. Agnes Parish Cluster.  Father Jim Higgins continued to serve the vibrant Blessed Sacrament and St. Agnes Parish Cluster.  During Father Jim Higgins time in Chatham he led the development of the Chatham Catholic Family of Parishes which includes all 5 Catholic Churches in Chatham - Blessed Sacrament, St. Agnes, St. Joseph, St. Ursula and Our Lady of Victory.  In 2021, Fr. John Jasica was appointed as pastor to continue the work of forming the family of parishes.

On January 19, 2025, the last Mass was held at St. Agnes Church with Bishop Ronald Fabbro and Rev. John Jasica, Pastor.  The boundaries of St. Agnes Church were absorbed into the boundaries of Blessed Sacrament Church.

St. Agnes History compiled by Diane French, July 2007 and the Diocese of London Archives (with updates included after that date).