Historic data of St. Patrick's Church, Hinton WV and Missions
received from the Archives of Diocese of Wheeling Charleston.
articles was written in 1953.
The first resident Catholic Pastor of Hinton, WV was Father D. P. Walsh. He
was Pastor from April 13, 1874 to August 21, 1897, according to a note found
in the Baptismal record, a space of 23 years and 4 months. The first Baptism
recorded in the Baptismal record is dated May 21, 1874, and was by Father D.
P. Walsh.
The congregation was organized on the 25th day of April, 1874 by Father D.
P. Walsh. He selected piece of ground, a lot 50 x 150, and procured from the
C&O railroad a deed on the 28th day of May, 1874 for this land and paid the
sum of $100.00 for this deed to the land; this land today is the present
site of St. Patrick's Church and the Residence at the corner of Second
Avenue and Temple Street, on of the best and most desirable sites in the
city of Hinton.
In 1878 Father Walsh had erected a one story frame house of worship with
rooms for the pastor connected to the same. The same frame building was
later brick veneered and is now the parochial residence. The Church
building, built by Father Walsh was occupied until 1880 (check out date)
when a new modern brick Church was erected with basement under the
supervision of Father J. W. Werninger.
In August, 1897, Father J. W. Werninger followed Father Walsh as Pastor of
St. Patrick's. The present Church building, as stated above, was built while
Father Werninger was Pastor at Hinton; likewise the Mission Church of the
Sacred Heart at Springdale was built while Father Werninger was Pastor at
Hinton. Father Werninger remained at Hinton as Pastor until July or August
of 1899 and was followed by Joseph Gormerly in September, 1899. He remained
until May, 1902. Father Robert P. Sullivan cam June 1, 1902, to become
Pastor of St. Patrick's and remained until about May 1905.
The next Pastor of St. Patrick's to follow Father R. P. Sullivan was Father
John J. Swint and Pastor in Hinton from June 1905 to about April 1908. From
April 1908 to October 1, 1935 Father Edward P. Jenkins was Pastor. Father
Jenkins died October 1, 1935 and was buried October 4, 1935 in St. Mary's
Cemetery, the Parish Cemetery, in Hinton.
Father C. F. Ewald followed as Pastor the latter part of October, 1935, and
remained until November 1940. The next Pastor pro tempore was Father Joseph
H. Mahussier who came about December 1, 1940 and remained until February 12,
1942. Father Joseph R. Sieber became Pastor February 13, 1942 and remained
until January 23rd 1943 and was followed by Father Joseph G. Bell. Father
Bell was followed on December 12, 1945 by the present Pastor, Father
Lawrence G. Becker.
Attached to St. Patrick's Church Hinton is the Mission Church of Sacred
Heart in Springdale, Fayette County. As stated above, this Mission Church
was built by Father J. W. Werninger. There was also a small Mission place
years ago know as "Irish Corner" across the New River in Raleigh County with
a very small Church situated on top of the mountain; this Church was built
by Father D. P. Walsh; the Church is still there but no longer in use but it
is kept up and the "Irish Corner" Cemetery is there; now and then funerals
are held in this Cemetery. This "Irish Corner" Mission is no lover a Mission
for most of the Catholics have moved from that locality; quite a number of
Catholics in Hinton came originally from the "Irish Corner" Mission in
Raleigh County.
In 1905 Father Swint installed the thousand pound Church bell in the tower
of the Church. this bell rang regularly until 1935. From then on until 1940
it rang spasmodically. In June of 1946 Father Lawrence Becker, the present
Pastor, electrified the bell, and it now rings automatically each day.