Glynwood Parish Centenary

1957: “The centenary of the celebration of the first Mass and the organization of St. Patrick’s Parish in Glynwood, then known as Six Mile, Auglaize County, will be marked March 17 — the feast of St. Patrick.

“The first Mass was offered by Father Patrick Henneberry, C.PP.S., for the original Irish settlers in the home of J.L. McFarland, a relative of Bishop E.P. McFarland of Hartford, Conn. Subsequent Masses were celebrated in the homes of John Cogan and a Mrs. O’Boyle. Prior to the organization of the parish of 13 families, priests from Piqua and from Petersburg, located between Botkins and Fryburg, made occasional visits to this section of Auglaize County.”

“Father Henneberry was appointed to organize the parish in 1857 and served the parish from the Precious Blood Mission in Minster. The first parish church, a small frame structure, was built by Father Henneberry in 1860. The land for the church and a small cemetery was donated by J.L. McFarland and was dedicated in 1861 under the patronage of St. Thomas.

“The name of the parish was changed from St. Thomas to St. Patrick in 1884 at the dedication of the present church edifice.

“The Precious Blood Fathers were in charge of the parish until 1876 when the first diocesan priest, Father Joseph Lutz, became the first resident pastor. The Sanguinists again assumed charge of the parish in 1880 and took care of the spiritual needs of the parishioners for the next 11 years. The diocesan clergy, beginning with Father John Singleton, had charge of the parish for the next 49 years, from 1891 to 1940. The Sanguinists again assumed the pastorate and are in charge today.

“The first baptism recorded in the parish was that of Sarah Briget Cogan in 1861. The first marriage on record was between James Cain and Rose Anne McFarland in 1873. Gravestone markers in the cemetery attest to burials as early as 1857 — but no parish records are on hand prior to 1873.” (See The Catholic Telegraph-Register, March 15, 1957)