St. Francis Xavier Church (Winooski, Vermont)

After conducting a survey in the village of Winooski during the winter of 1867–68, Bishop Louis de Goesbriand initiated the parish of St. Francis Xavier to serve the population of some 800 French-Canadian Roman Catholics,[5] or about 170 French-Canadian families.[6] The first Mass took place within a rented hall in Winooski Block on March 22, 1868[7] during the fourth Sunday of Lent with two-hundred parishioners in attendance.

On May 13, 1869, ten acres of land for the church, rectory, and a cemetery was sold for $4,000 by a local merchant Francis LeClair to the Révérend Jean Frederick Audet (1842-1917), who was appointed as the pastor in 1868 and served in that capacity until his passing on December 28, 1917.[8] On July 11, 1869, a committee of parishioners was commissioned to raise funds for the church's construction. Members from Winooski included Francis LeClair, Bruno Pepin, Pierre Allard, Pierre Desautels, Pierre Fontain, and Louis Berube. Excavation for the building commenced on October 12, 1869.[1]

Construction of the church building began on May 1, 1870. Francis LeClair (1818-1889)[9] who had emigrated from Quebec in 1828 established two brick yards, a grocery store, and served two terms in the Vermont legislature, oversaw the construction of the church with another local merchant and eventual State Representative, Charles Lafountain.[10][11] LeClair provided the wood and bricks from his own brickyard for the project at a reduced price. Masonry work was completed by parishioners Pierre Fontain and Pierre Villemaire. The carpenter for the project was parishioner, G. Rouillard, who was assisted by workers paid at their regular wage. For the cost of $1,500, the sacristy was constructed on the church property in September 1870.[12] The first Mass was celebrated in the church without a finished interior or a heating system on December 18, 1870.[1] During that month a portable harmonium organ was purchased for the church for $450.00.[3]

Bishop de Goesbriand made his first pastoral visit to the church on September 17, 1871, where he celebrated a Solemn High Mass, sang vespers, and conferred the sacrament of Confirmation upon 110 parishioners.[1] Historical accounts state that the Bishop had made it plain to parishioners that the church was intended only for those who understood and spoke the French language, as a majority of the local Catholic population of the day were French-Canadians. In 1867, village records had stated that Winooski had a population of 1,745 which was composed of 855 French-Americans, 626 Yankees, and 264 Irish that lived within roughly 296 buildings along 32 streets.[5][13] During the time of its opening there were an estimated 700 parishioners of the Church.[14]

St. Francis Xavier Church before the construction of its steeples in 1876

The church's original towers consisted only of the first tier. A buttressed second tier and copper-clad steeples were subsequently added to the towers by Joseph E. Lanoue of Burlington with the assistance of a carpenter, Louis Berube in 1882.[3][4] By September 1883, steeple construction had been completed. A three-bell carillon was purchased in October 1885 for $930.00. Blessed on November 22, and installed in the belfry on November 25, the bells were made by the McShane Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland and tuned in minor keys. Following French custom, the bells were named. The first bell, Jean Baptise weighed 2,260 lb (1,030 kg) and was tuned in the key of C. The second bell, Saint Francis weighed 1,200 lb (540 kg) was tuned in the key of E. The third named Saint Marie weighed 744 lb (337 kg) and was tuned to the key of G.[3] The bells were replaced with electronic chimes in 1978.[14]

In 1928, a 7 ft (2.13 m) bronze statue of Saint Francis Xavier weighing 1,700 lb (770 kg) was installed upon the niche on the front gable.[15] The interior of the church was renovated in 1942.[1] The entrance of the church was remodeled in 1964. Modern hoods were installed over the three front doors, the brick walkways were replaced with pavement, and new steps were installed from St. Peter Street to the front entrance. In September 1968, an additional wing (designed by Marcel Beaudoin and Walter Moulton) was constructed on the eastern side of the Church which hosted a baptismal font and served as a ground-level entrance for the elderly and disabled.[16]

The Church Organ

Stained glass window within St. Francis Xavier Church, created by Guido Nincheri.

In December 1879, the harmonium was replaced with a pipe organ that was purchased for the church at the cost of $800.00 (the instrument was said to be worth $2,000). In May 1948, the pipe organ was replaced with a new instrument for the sum of $15,615.[12] Gertrude Granger Picher the principal organist of St. Francis Xavier Church from 1930 to 1995 had helped facilitate the parish purchase of the prestigious Casavant pipe organ that is set in the choir loft. The organ was officially dedicated to her in 1995 with a wall plaque installed in the church vestibule.[17]

The architect of the building, Rev. Joseph Michaud was known to have later contributed to the design of Cathedral Basilica of Mary Queen of the World (née St. James Cathedral) in Dominion Square in Montreal, and had also designed Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Burlington, Vermont.

The building stands at a height of 55 ft. to the ceiling and is approximately 70 ft. wide by 130 ft. long (and 5 bays by 8 bays, respectively).

According to an architectural report by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, the style of the church is a combination of Romanesque architecture and provincial French Gothic Revival features. The report further describes the church's design;

"Fenestration is mostly stained glass lancet windows, with drip moulds. Front gable has crucifix at apex, riche with corbelled drip molds containing bronze statue of St. Francis, rose window with radiating spokes immediately below. Central entrance has Gothic-arched opening with corbelled drip moulding, elaborate carved and glazed double doors, gabled brick entrance porch; flanking tower entrances are identical though smaller in scale, and with single doors. Towers have large recessed panels on 1st tier, 4-gabled 2nd tier with corbelled frieze Gothic-arched louvres; copper spires have flying buttresses, flemish wall-dormer louvres, wrought iron open-work crosses on top."

— Division for Historic Preservation – Historic Sites & Structures Survey, 1979

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  Northeasterly view of St. Francis Xavier Church from St. Peter St.
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  Bronze Statue of Saint Francis Xavier installed on the niche of the front gable.
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  Interior view of the church.
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  St. Francis Xavier Rectory.
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  Dedication plaque of St. Francis Xavier Church.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Francis Xavier Church (Winooski, Vermont).

• Official website St. Francis Xavier Church
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington Official Site

44.506968°N 73.187235°W / 44.506968; -73.187235