Immaculate Conception Church (Amenia, New York)
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The Church of Immaculate Conception is a
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...
under the authority of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York The Archdiocese of New York () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the State of New York. It encompasses the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island in New York City and the count ...
, located in Amenia,
Dutchess County Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later org ...
,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
. It was established as a parish in 1866.Remigius Lafort, S.T.D., Censor,
The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. Volume 3: The Province of Baltimore and the Province of New York, Section 1: Comprising the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn, Buffalo and Ogdensburg.
'. (New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p.398.


History

According to tradition, a Father Kelly of Connecticut, was the first priest to minister to Amenia. Settlers arrived about 1847, a number to work in the iron ore beds of Sharon Station. The Immaculate Conception parish in Amenia, originally included the parishes currently in Dover Plains, Pawling, Pine Plains and Millbrook. Parish records indicate that in 1844 the first priest known to attend the sick and say an occasional Mass in the area of Northeast and Amenia was Fr. Riordan of St. Peter's Church, Poughkeepsie. In Amenia, he first celebrated Mass in the home of Thomas McEnroe. Then, in 1859 Father Charles Slavin became responsible for early Catholics here by being given charge of the whole Harlem Valley. He resided at Dover Plains and built the church there. Fr. John Arsenigo followed him, in 1864, living at Croton Falls. He used to say Mass in the sheds at the railroad station in Amenia and in homes around Millerton. It was he who purchased the land and started to build the churches in Amenia and Millerton. During the pastorate of Fr. Orsenigo, masses were held in private homes around the village while preparations were made to build a church. Fr. Tandy became the first resident pastor in 1864 and established the first Immaculate Conception Church in 1868 presiding over the additional missions in Pawling, Dover Plains, Millerton and Millbrook for twelve years. According to his diary, Fr. Tandy was forced to resign in 1880 "under the strain of so many outlying missions"; a complaint which was echoed by many of the succeeding pastors. Fr. Tandy was succeeded by Rev. Daniel J. Corckery in June 1880. In September 1881 a parish school was established. On July 29, 1886, the church was destroyed by lightning. The cornerstone of the new church was laid June 12, 1887.Lavelle, Rev. Francis E. in Hasbrouck, Frank, ed. ''The History of Dutchess County New York'', p642, S.A. Mathieu, Poughkeepsie, NY 1909
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Pastors

* 1868 - 1880 Rev. Patrick W. Tandy * 1880 - 1888 Rev. Daniel J. Corkery * 1888 - 1894 Rev. Anthony Molloy * 1894 - 1899 Rev. James McEntyre * 1899 - 1907 Rev. Dennis F. Coyle * 1907 - 1950 Rev. Francis E. Lavelle * 1950 - 1950 Rev. Daniel Hughes


St Anthony's, Pine Plains

The Church of St. Anthony is a
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...
under the authority of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York The Archdiocese of New York () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the State of New York. It encompasses the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island in New York City and the count ...
, located in Pine Plains,
Dutchess County Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later org ...
,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
. In 1870, several Irish Catholic families settled in Pine Plains, who would take the train to Millbrook and the mission of
St. Joseph According to the canonical Gospels, Joseph (; ) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orth ...
. Over time a priest would travel from Immaculate Conception in Amenia to celebrate Mass in a private home in Pine Plains. The church, dedicated under the patronage of St. Anthony of Padua, was built in 1912. and became s mission of Immaculate Conception Parish in 1913. Rev. Lavelle was pastor in Amenia; parishioners in Pine Plains would bring him to St. Anthony's by horse and buggy. St. Anthony's was elevated to parish status in 1958. Rev. Vincent D. McCambley was the first pastor.


Merger

As of August 1, 2015, the parish merged with Immaculate Conception, although Masses and sacraments will continue to be celebrated at St. Anthony's church.


References


External links


Parish website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Immaculate Conception Church (Amenia, New York) Religious organizations established in 1866 Roman Catholic churches in New York (state) Churches in Dutchess County, New York Christian organizations established in 1913