Biddeford in York County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

St. André's Church / L'Église Sainte André

Biddeford, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets® —

St. André's Church / L'Église Sainte André Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 12, 2021

1. St. André's Church / L'Église Sainte André Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Bishop Heley and Father Pierre-Emmanuel Dupont of St. Joseph's Church decided that a second church for Franco-Americans was needed. In 1899, they called upon Rev. Louis Bergeron, pastor in Fairfield, Maine, to organize St. André's Church. The decree of division was signed on the patronal feast day of St. Andrew. The first mass was held in the basement of St. Joseph's Church while waiting for the completion of the construction of the new church.

St. André's parish celebrated its first high mass in its own church on Christmas Day 1900. The new parish consisted of the eastern part of the city from Foss Street including Saco. The church is Romanesque in style and has no inside pillars. Msgr. Arthur Décary played an important role in his long association with the parish. His brother, Zénon, was a beloved faith healer.

Le besoin d'une autre église se faisait de plus en plus sentir par les Franco-Américains. L'évêque, Mgr. Healey, de concert avec le Père Pierre-Emmanuel Dupont, curé de la paroisse St. Joseph, forma la paroisse St. André. Le décrit de la division fut signé le 30

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Novembre 1899, le jour de la fête patronale de Saint André. La nouvelle paroisse comprit toute la partie est de Biddeford à partir de la rue Foss, inclus la rue Main et Saco. Le curé Louis Bergeron de Fairfield, Maine, fut appelé à prendre la direction de la nouvelle paroisse St. André et célébra sa première grand-messe le jour de Noël 1900. L'église est dans le style roman et n'a aucun pilier à l'intérieur. Msgr. Arthur Décary joua un rôle important dans cette paroisse. Son frère, le Père Zénon, thaumaturge, fut bien-aimé des paroissiens.

Erected 2006 by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 30.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Biddeford, Maine series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 43° 29.417′ N, 70° 27.025′ W. Marker is in Biddeford, Maine, in York County. Marker is on Bacon Street just west of High Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 86 Bacon St, Biddeford ME 04005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Samuel Peirson's House / La Maison Samuel Peirson (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); The James Sullivan Home / Le Résidence de James Sullivan

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 12, 2021

2. St. André's Church / L'Église Sainte André Marker

(about 800 feet away); Biddeford, Maine (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Biddeford Shipyards / Les Chantiers Navals (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Stone Fort (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Saco in 1693 / Le Fort Saco en 1693 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Honor Roll (approx. 0.2 miles away); Alfred Street / La Rue Alfred (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Biddeford.

St. André's Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Glen Prentice, June 14, 2022

3. St. André's Church

Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 291 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Glen Prentice of Attleboro, Mass.