The year 2009 marked the 185 th anniversary of the founding of St. Peter’s Parish and, sadly, it’s permanent closing as a Catholic church on August 31st. St. Peter’s was the oldest Catholic church in Troy and possibly, the third oldest Catholic Church in New York State.
In 1824, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church was the seventh religious society organized in Troy. The first services of this congregation in 1825 were held in a school-house on the south-east corner of Second and Ferry streets. Desiring to erect a suitable house of worship, the members of the church, on June 22, 1826 made an appeal to the people of Troy for aid in building such an edifice.
On or about October 28 th that year, John D. Dickinson and several other grantors conveyed for consideration of “six cents” lot 214 on the north-east corner of North Second and Hutton streets. The conveyance stipulated that the ground was “for the use and purpose of having a meeting house built and forever continued” on it and “also that a clock and bell should, within a reasonable time after the building of the first meeting house, be placed, put and continued thereon,” and in case these conditions were not fulfilled, “the property was to revert to the grantors.” Recently, a similar provision affecting the Woodside Presbyterian Church in Troy resulted in the building reverting to heirs of the Burden family and the land reverting to heirs of the Corning family.
Shortly afterwards a small weather-boarded church was begun on the lot. On completion of the building in 1830, the Right Rev. John Dubois, Bishop of New York consecrated it. Some years later the church was enlarged by a brick addition which increased its length to eighty feet. About noon on Tuesday February 10, 1848 the church was destroyed by fire caused by sparks from a stove pipe.
The existing large brick church structure, with its finely proportioned clock-tower and steeple now occupying the site of the burned structure, was erected in 1849 and was dedicated on December 16 th that year by the Right Rev. John McCloskey, Bishop of Albany. The plans of St. Peter’s were by Patrick Charles Keely (Kiely), from Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland who was the foremost student in this country of Gothic architecture. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany and St. Joseph’s Church in Albany are also Keely designed churches. Peter Finnerty of Troy was the builder of St. Peter’s.\
The following Memorial Names that were found in St. Peter’s Churchwere transcribed by TIGS volunteer Maureen Noonan.
wdt_ID
Name
Memorial
Location
Inscription
Church
Status
1
Baniak, Charles V., Rev.
Asst. Pastor - 1953-1958
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
2
Barron Family
Stained Glass Window - Agony in the Garden
North Side of Main Altar
In Memoriam - John & Deborah Barron & Family
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
3
Barron, Deborah
Stained Glass Window - Agony in the Garden
North Side of Main Altar
In Memoriam - John & Deborah Barron & Family
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
4
Barron, John
Stained Glass Window - Agony in the Garden
North Side of Main Altar
In Memoriam - John & Deborah Barron & Family
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
5
Boldt, Joseph, Rev.
Asst. Pastor - 1923-1925
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
6
Brady, Catherine
Marble Pillar - L2
Left Side of High Altar
In Memory of Charles & Catherine Brady - By Their Daughter Elizabeth
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
7
Brady, Charles
Marble Pillar - L2
Left Side of High Altar
In Memory of Charles & Catherine Brady - By Their Daughter Elizabeth
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
8
Brady, Elizabeth
Marble Pillar - L2
Left Side of High Altar
In Memory of Charles & Catherine Brady - By Their Daughter Elizabeth
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
9
Brady, P., Rev.
Asst. Pastor - 1860-1861
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
10
Brennan , Matthew M.,
Right Rev.
Pastor - 1960-1968
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
11
Brennan, Denis, Rev.
Asst. Pastor - 1964-1965
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
12
Brosnan, John, Rev.
Asst. Pastor - 1868
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
13
Burke, Thomas M. A., Rt. Rev.
Chime 1 of 10 Bells
Bell Tower
His Holiness, Leo XIII, Being the Reigning Pontiff, Rt. Rev. Thomas M. A. Burke, Bishop of Albany and Rev. John J. Walsh, Pastor of the Church.
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
14
Burns Children
Marble Pillar - R4
Right Side of High Altar
In Memory of John W. & Ellen Burns - By Their Children
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
15
Burns, Ellen
Marble Pillar - R4
Right Side of High Altar
In Memory of John W. & Ellen Burns - By Their Children
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
16
Burns, John W.
Marble Pillar - R4
Right Side of High Altar
In Memory of John W. & Ellen Burns - By Their Children
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
17
Carey, Edward
Memorial Cross
Front of Church
Erected By John Kirby in Memory of His Parents and Uncle, Edward Carey. A.D. 1888
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
18
Carroll, Patrick
Chime 6 of 10 Bells
Bell Tower
In Memory of Her Parents Daniel and Mary Sweeney, and Husband Patrick Carroll, who died August 8, 1894. The Gift of Daughter and Wife, Sarah Carroll.
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
19
Carroll, Sarah
Chime 6 of 10 Bells
Bell Tower
In Memory of Her Parents Daniel and Mary Sweeney, and Husband Patrick Carroll, who died August 8, 1894. The Gift of Daughter and Wife, Sarah Carroll.
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
20
Cavanagh, Emma
Chime 10 of 10 Bells
Bell Tower
In Memory of Mrs. Emma Cavanagh, who Died April 22, 1894. The Gift of Her Husband Patrick Cavanagh
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
21
Cavanagh, Patrick
Chime 10 of 10 Bells
Bell Tower
In Memory of Mrs. Emma Cavanagh, who Died April 22, 1894. The Gift of Her Husband Patrick Cavanagh
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
22
Children
Stained Glass Window - St. Dominic Receiving Vision of Our Lady of the Rosary
South Side of Main Altar
Gift to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary from her Loyal Children
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
23
Clune, Gerald. F., Rev.
Asst. Pastor - 1950
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
24
Collins, John D., Rev. S.T.B.
Asst. Pastor - 1934
St. Peter's, Troy
Closed - 5/31/2009
25
Comiskey Family
Marble Pillar - R7
Right Side of High Altar
In Devout Memory of My Father, Mother and Brother - Gift of Miss Teresa Comiskey