The roots of St. Anne Parish began as far back as 1839 when dozens of workers came to this area while railroads were being constructed through Henry and adjoining counties.  Desperate for employment, many of these men migrated from Ireland in the midst of a critical potato famine. 

Rev. William Doyle, a priest from Richmond, visited on occasion to offer Mass in a wooded area east of town for these workers and their families.  Father Doyle was the first of several faithful priests to do this.

 As these families began to migrate to this area, a priest named Father Herman Alerding was given charge of this area.  Realizing a need for a place in which to worship, plans were made toward building a church.  Father Alerding purchased land on the northeast corner of 21^st and Broad Streets in 1872, where a quaint little church was built and finished the following year.  Numerous mission priests were given charge of the church until a resident pastor was appointed in 1881.

 As the parish outgrew the small country-church, plans for a new, much larger church became reality when land was acquired a mere two blocks west, situated on the northeast corner of 19^th and Broad Streets in 1919.  Even though many non-Catholics contributed toward the building project, Anti-Catholic sentiment was a problem during these years.  Parish history tells us the story of Ku Klux Klan members knocking down parts of the foundation.  It was said that some parishioners stood guard at night until construction was completed in 1924.

 Upon the arrival of Rev. William C. Fehlinger as pastor in 1950, he continued the works of his predecessor, Rev. Amos A McLoughlin, with plans of building St. Anne School, which was in operation from 1951 until 1982.

 Early in 1983, the Parish Council serving under the pastorate of Father Daniel Armstrong made the decision not only to make the needed repairs to the church interior, but also to incorporate the changes for the acceptance of the Liturgical Development of Vatican II.  A fund drive began, with a total of $187,000 being raised.  The work, which was done during the summer months of 1987, included new carpeting, a reconstructed pipe organ, new sanctuary furnishings, new lighting, insulation, wiring, plaster repair and painting.  Also done at this time was the installation of a new sound system, fire alarm, storm enclosure and repair of several stained-glass windows.  It was the hope that the renovation would result in a house of worship that would include more parishioner participation and result in an edifice that would serve our faithful for years to come.  During the actual time of renovation, Rev. Steve Schaftlein had become our pastor and continued so until 1995 when Sister Shirley Gerth, a Sister of St. Francis, Oldenburg, was appointed Parish Life Coordinator with sacramental assistance on weekends from Father Joseph Rautenberg of Indianapolis.

In preparing for the future, St. Anne Parish continues to carry out the theme of the Jubilee Year “Open Wide the Doors to Christ.”  We are committed to opening wide the doors of our own heart to Christ by seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.  We also accept the challenge of opening wide those doors to our brothers and sisters in St. Anne faith community and the broader community of New Castle.

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