St. Columban Church

St. Columban Church. Est. 1832. , In the late 1820's, Irish immigrants came into the Huron Tract. They had a deep religious faith and a determination to clear the land and to farm. Missionary priests, who travelled the trackless forests and later the Huron Road, celebrated Mass in homes and served the settlers in what became the first Catholic parish between Guelph and Goderich. In 1840, a log church was built here on Lot 9, Concession 1, McKillop Township. In 1858, it was replaced by a white Renaissance style church with a seventy-foot spire. In 1898, the thriving community known as Irishtown, was renamed St. Columban after the Irish medieval monk, chosen as the patron saint of the parish., When a fire destroyed this grand church in 1909, the parishioners built a new red brick building that was opened in 1911. For 173 years, these churches served the St. Columban community. The Diocese of London closed St. Columban Roman Catholic Church in 2005. The building was demolished in 2006 and the property was sold to the Municipality of Huron East. The bell and cornerstone of the church and a plaque are located in the nearby St. Columban Cemetery. St. Columban Church and its community have had a lasting impact on the opening and settlement of the Huron Tract., The first rectory was built in 1858. A much larger rectory was built in 1882 to house the travelling missionary priests of the region. In 1977, the large rectory was demolished and a smaller one was built to house the priest.