Churches

This is a story that was in one of the local papers about the dedication of the church that I went to has a child. This took place in 1893.

"Sunday was a day which will occupy a prominent place in the history of what is known as the "German settlement" in Crittenden towhship. It was the occasion of the formal dedication of the handsome new St. Mary's German Catholic Church, and a day to which the parishioners have been looking forward to with great expectations since the spring of 1893, when the cornerstone was laid and work was begun in reality on one of the finest houses of worship in Champaign County. Sunday was a perfect summer day. Nature was out in all her splendor and there was no place on the face of the earth in which she made a better showing than in the German settle-ment, with its great fields of corn and golden grain. The services were to begin at 10 o'clock but long before that hour all the roads leading to the church were filled with vehicles. They all had one destination and by 9:30 the road on either side of the church for a quarter of a mile, was lined with rigs. It is seldom that a larger crowd has been seen in the township. Some had expected that, by going early, they could get desirable seats; but they were disappointed, as the doors of the church were kept closed until nearly 10:30. Fully 800 people were massed at the door, and while most of them got inside there were many who had to contend them-selves under the inviting trees of the churchyard.

The opening service, which lasted something over an hour was of the most impressive character, and while all the aisles were crowded with people, perfect stillness reigned during the whole time. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Bishop Spaulding, of Peoria; Rev. Father McKinnery, of Tolono; Rev. Father Wagner, of Champaign; and Rev. Father Freicon, of Napoleon, Indiana, and Rev. Father Steurer, pastor of the church. On the completion of the opening service a large majority of those present sat down in the churchyard, where they partook of their dinner, and in the afternoon Bishop Spaulding delivered a lecture. The afternoon crowd was, from estimate, still larger than that of the fore-noon and of course many did not even get a glimpse of the interior of the magnificent church. From beginning to end the day was one entirely befitting of the occasion, and those who had spent so much time in its arrangement went home fully satisfied with its outcome.

The history of the church from its infancy is most interest-ing, and the parishioners are not backward in crediting most of the success to Anthony Reinhart who has taken more interest, probably, in the welfare and advancement of the German settlement than any other one man, but he says that he cannot see that he has been anymore active than many others. He was one of the first men to take up a home in Crittenden, which was at that time largely uncultivated prairie. Other German families gathered into the neighborhood and they were mostly Catholics. It was just nineteen years ago that they laid the foundation of what is now one of the most substantial parishes in Illinois. The first application for the establishment of the church, was made to Bishop Foley, of Chicago, in 1875, but he refused the request, because it is said, that in his opinion there were not enough families in the settlement to support a church. At that time there were seventeen Catholic families in the settlement, and when this request was refused they decided to proceed with the establish-ment of a church on their own account. A sufficient sum was donated for the purchase of four acres of open prairie, two and one-half miles east of Pesotum, and Mr. Reinhart planted a large number of trees on the property. He says that at that time he was the laughing stock of the neighborhood; but he knew that something was bound to come of the effort in future years, and he has lived to see it. As soon as possible after the purchase of the ground a small frame church 22 x 32 was erected and Rev. Father Kuchenbuch, of Danville, held three services in it. Then the Franciscan Fathers were engaged and they remained seven years, doing much good work. At the end of that time, thirty-three families had become members of the parish, the original church had become too small, and with little or no effort a frame church 33 x 64 feet and costing $4,000 was erected. After this church had been built two years, the diocese was divided and the church fell into the territory of Bishop Spaulding. He at once demanded the deed for the church property. It was transferred to him and since then has been under his care. From that time the parish has grown rapidly and now contains between 90 and 100 families. The demands grew with the membership, and soon after the building of the second church a two story school house was established, which has now an attendance from 50 to 90 pupils. Three capable sisters are in charge and make their home in the second story of the school building. The attendance is continually increasing and it has been decided to also utilize for school purposes, the frame church building, which stands directly east of the new church. A later addition was a handsome residence for the pastor in charge, and now the group of four buildings, standing in the midst of a well shaded lawn, makes the most attractive spot in the township.

The newly dedicated church is perfect in architectural beauty, and substantial enough to stand for ages. In dimensions it is 44 x 124, with ample vestry in the rear of the altar. The foundation is of stone, the walls being brick, with massive stone trimmings. The spire rises to the height of 144 feet and is surmounted by a large golden cross, which can be seen for many miles in the surrounding country. The windows are of art glass. At the entrance there is an ample vestibule and directly over it is the choir gallery, which ex-tends the full width of the building. There are two rows of massive columns the length of the church and they support graceful arches. The frescoting is much like that usually seen in Catholic churches and borders on the elaborate. The pews and other interior wood work are in quarter-sawed oak. The altar has not yet been put in, but it will be of oak, also. The building will be heated by furnace and will contain every modern improvement possible in a country church. The contract price of the church was $12,000 but when furnished it will cost something over $16,000.

Rev. Father Steurer, who has had charge of the parish during the past few years, has devoted almost his entire time to overseeing the erection of the church, and he deserved and is receiving much credit for this work in the parish. He was a man much in demand at the dedication, Sunday, and was showered with compliments on the successful completion of the handsome edifice.

Among the Champaign people who attended the dedication were Ben Baer, of the New York store, George Happ, of Ottenheimers, Henry Trevett and George Ely, Jr."