St. Greg’s parish celebrates 120th

St. Gregory’s Picton celebrates 120th anniversary

Hanging in the office at St. Greg’s is a faded silver ribbon which reads “Souvenir of the Grand Opening of St. Gregory’s New R.C Church, 21st September, 1893.”

The new brick and stone structure, replaced an earlier frame one built on land granted by Anglican Rev. William Macaulay. It was designed by the celebrated Irish architect Joseph Connolly, the man responsible for many of Ontario’s finest Churches and Cathedrals: James St. Baptist (Hamilton), St. Peter’s (London), St. Mary’s (Kingston), St. Michael’s (Toronto). How the Catholic community in Picton managed to secure the services of this architect, renowned for his Gothic Revival designs, is a mystery.

On Sunday September 15, the St. Gregory’s community celebrated the 120th anniversary of the dedication of their church. Archbishop O’Brien travelled from Kingston to  dedicate the new organ.
Choir director Greg Garrett composed a special anthem for the occasion.

After mass the community was invited step back in time to 1893 at a Victorian style luncheon, complete with Victorian Games, old photos, a silent auction, and a parish video.