Saint John Church (Middletown, Connecticut)

In the early 19th Century, immigrants from Ireland moved in large numbers to Middletown. By 1830 there were enough families there to form a vibrant and close-knit Irish community that desired its own place of worship. In 1841, two acres of land were purchased on the current site of the church. Most of the future parishioners of Saint John worked across the river in the brownstone quarries of Portland and the owners of the quarries donated large blocks of brownstone to help build the first church. == Oldest church of the diocese ==

Saint John Church was built back in 1843, predating the erection of the Diocese of Norwich on August 6, 1953, by Pope Pius XII, making it the oldest church in the newly organized diocese. The Diocese of Norwich was split from the Diocese of Hartford in 1953, after which Hartford was elevated to an archdiocese. ==Buildings==

The imposing 1843 Irish-influenced ecclesiastical Gothic Revival church building was designed by architect, Patrick Charles Keely and it was built by local Irish immigrants that were led by prominent local builder Barzialli Sage. The original church that was completed in 1843 was just a small church building and the existing spire for the church was erected in 1864. There have been three renovations to the exterior of the building. The 1843 building is now the sacristy for St. John's and the current church was finished in 1852. The church can hold up to one thousand worshipers. The interior walls of the church were frescoed by William Borgett, a local artist and there have been several interior renovations over the years. The building is listed as significant contributing property of the City of Middletown Historic District. St. Elizabeth Convent During the construction of the church, it was decided that a convent was to be built. Saint Elizabeth Convent was finished in 1873. St. John graveyard and cemetery The church maintains two cemeteries. The original graveyard is located directly behind the church and the newer cemetery is located on Johnson Street in Middletown. List of priests that served St. John Church as pastor/rector • John Brady, Sr. (1837-1845) • John Brady, Jr. (1845-1855) • Lawrence T.P. Mangan (1855-1857) • James Lynch (1857-1873) • Edward J. O'Brien (1873-1876) • Francis P. O'Keefe (1876-1881) • Denis Desmond (1881-1885) • Bernard O'Reilly Sheridan (1885-1903) • James Patrick Donovan (1903-1928) • Denis F. Baker (1928-1931) • William J. Fitzgerald (1931-1934) • John C. Brennan (1934-1944) • Bernard F. McCarthy (1944-1948) • John J. McGrath (1948-1961) • Edward J. McKenna (1962-1986) • Joseph C. Ashe (1986-2002) • Dennis G. Carey (2002-2004) • Anthony P. Gruber (2004-2005) • James J. Sucholet (2005-2009) • Michael L. Phillippino (2009-2017) • James Thaikoottathil (2017–Present) == References ==