St. Thomas More Church, Withamsville (Part 2)

"St. Thomas More Church, Withamsville, July-August, 1944, before renovation."

Father Heider continues the narrative from this point:

“The Archbishop had directed me to purchase, if possible, an abandoned M.E. church, which almost joined our property and faced the main road. To do this I had to win the confidence of the people as the Civic association of the township now owned the old church and leased it as a fruit market. I made one attempt to buy the property and failed.

“The village wanted a fire department and was going to use the old church to house the equipment. I had to act quickly to aid the community. I had to convince the trustees of the Civic association that the property was of more value to the church and that the funds received by the sale of the church would enable them to buy their equipment and have a more suitable place for their fire department. The trustees were favorable and agreed on the price of $6,000, but to buy the property is still had to be voted upon by the members of the Civic association. You can be assured that I induced many new members to join the association.

“Then came the night of the vote. . . . In order that the opposition would not show itself we called for a standing vote. The air was tense. The vote came. Thirty-four of the huge gallery stood up for and seven against. We won!

“The Little Brother of the Missions then altered the old church, and it became an attractive chapel. The old school was converted to its original purpose, only now it was to be a parochial school.

“The Most Reverend Archbishop dedicated the remodeled church, Aug. 20, 1944, and the first Mass in it was said at the same date.”

"The photo shows the renovated Withamsville church. Inset: Father Francis J. Heider, pastor 1942-57" (See related story, The Catholic Telegraph-Register, December 21, 1945)