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Subject: [MACHELSEA] http://olgp.net/chs/church/rose.htm
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 22:16:08 EST
ST. ROSE CHURCH
Between the years of 1830 to 1840, the population of Chelsea had increased
from 771 to 2390. By 1850, the population had jumped to 6702, predominantly due
to Irish immigration. The Irish were the first immigrants to come to America
in large sudden groups. The ships the Irish traveled on were freight carriers
heading for America to pick up goods for European markets. The immigrants were
used as ballast for the trip. The port of embarkation, was wherever the
vessel's business took it. East Boston was one of these ports. From East Boston the
immigrant groups would move into the North End of Boston or settle in Chelsea.
In Chelsea, the Irish settled in the area of Chester Avenue, Highland,
Cottage, and Maverick Streets.
The Irish Catholic religion in Ireland had been reviled, they now had freedom
of religion in America. Unfortunately, the nearest Catholic Church was
St..Nicholas in East Boston (now the Church of the Holy Redeemer}. In 1844, a
meeting of thirty persons took place in the Bellingham Street home of Orestes
Brownson, a prominent convert. A Mass was celebrated by Rev. Nicholas O'Brien,
Pastor of St. Nicholas Church, East Boston, to initiate the creation of the parish
of St. Rose, Chelsea. Not until May 1846 was a priest available for assignment
to Chelsea. Rev. Patrick Rattigan was appointed the first pastor of St. Rose
for a very brief pastorate. In the Summer of 1847, the second pastor Rev. John
O'Beirne, obtained the use of Guild's Hall on Winnisimmet Street for Sunday
Mass. During the pastorate of Rev. Charles Smith, 1849, a large double house on
Cottage Street near Shawmut Street was acquired for church and rectory.
The church progressed without incident until 1854, the year the "Knownothing
Society" was active in creating uprisings against foreigners and Catholics.
Chelsea experienced a part in this uprising, when a prominent member of this
society, calling himself "Angel Gabriel" and blowing a horn, led a group of
followers for a raid on the St. Rose Church on Cottage Street. Minor damage was
caused by the group before being driven off by fifty policemen, hastily appointed
by the Selectmen, and the militia. This same group was responsible for the
complete destruction by fire, of the Ursaline Convent in Charlestown, a couple
of nights before.
Due to the continued influx of immigrants, the population in 1860, had
increased to 13,395. This influx was mostly Irish Catholic immigrants. A larger
church was urgently needed. A piece of land was acquired on the west side of
Broadway near the railroad bridge. On August 30, 1866, a beautiful Gothic structure
was dedicated as the new St. Rose Church under the pastorate of Rev. Patrick
Strain.
The following year, 1867, Rev. James McGlew began a pastorate that would span
thirty six years. In 1871, a girls' grammar and high school were constructed.
The schools were run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The Sisters of
Notre Dame were not allowed to teach males beyond the primary grades. The boys
had to wait until 1889 when the Sisters of Notre Dame left St. Rose and the
Sisters of Providence came to teach. Rev. McGlew also built a convent for the
nuns, a vestry to the church, and a rectory. When Rev. McGlew passed away in
1903, his remains were interred in a crypt in the lower church.
The Great Chelsea Fire of 1908,
The disastrous fire of 1908, destroyed the church, school and convent. The
nuns were moved into the rectory at 39 Crescent Avenue and the priests moved
into 16 Tudor Street. In 1917 the nuns took over 16 Tudor Street as a convent and
the priests moved back to 39 Crescent Avenue. The parish recovered quickly
after the fire. Within a matter of months a new church and a new school were
operating on the same site.
The Girls' High School was closed for financial reasons, in 1987. The school
still educates students in grades K to 8. The "Little St. Rose" a wood two
story satellite school in Mill Hill was closed and sold to the French Club in
1945. A new rectory building was built directly across the street from the
church. The old rectory building was sold to a developer. St. Rose today manages the
affairs of the Assumption Church as well as offering masses weekly in
English, Spanish, Cambodian and Vietnamese.
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