Parish History of Church of St. Peter-in-Chains, Trenton ... - Cogeco

CCORDING TO THE RECORDS inscribed by the ReverendEdmund J. Walsh during his pastorate at Trenton, the HolySacrifice of the Mass was first offered in Trenton early in theyear 1832. The celebrant was Rev. Michael Brennan, andthe place, the private residence of the late J. V. Murphy.Preparations were made for the acquisition of land and thefirst church was completed in the following year, 1833. The church, aframe structure, said to be the first church erected in Trenton by anydenomination, stood until the year 1874. From 1832 to 1847, Trentonformed a part of the mission of Belleville.In the year 1847, by appointment of the Right Reverend DoctorPhelan, Trenton became a separate mission, with Rev. F. P. McEvoy thefirst pastor. Father McEvoy remained in Trenton until 1850, when he wasappointed to the mission of Loughboro (Railton). He was succeeded bythe Rev. P. J. Madden, D. D., who built the first presbytery. At this timethe mission of Trenton included Frankford, Brighton and Codrington.Father Madden having met with an accident, Rev. J. D. O’Connorassumed temporary charge for a few months prior to the appointment in1854 of the next pastor, Rev. Henry Brettargh.The first Separate School was established in 1860. The presentchurch was built in 1874 and dedicated by the Right Reverend DoctorO’Brien, then Bishop of Kingston. Father Brettargh resigned in 1882 andreturned to England. Rev. Morgan O’Brien was given temporary chargeof Trenton pending the appointment of the next pastor, Rev. Edmund J.Walsh, in 1882.The Right Reverend James Vincent Cleary took possession of theSee of Kingston in 1881. In the following year, the Diocese ofPeterborough was established. Brighton and Codrington became a part ofthe new diocese, and Frankford a separate mission, thus confining theparish of Trenton to the corporation boundaries.The year 1883 witnessed the erection of the Stations of theCross, donated by fourteen members of the congregation: Donald