Our History

c.1815

The British establish military settlements at Perth, Prescott and Richmond. Many Irish and Scottish Catholics being among the soldiers, a priest is assigned to the churches there. The mass immigration of 1816 brings many more Irish, and altogether there are 600 to 700 Catholics (including Canadians and Scots) in the Perth settlement. Missions spring up in the surrounding areas, and Fr. John MacDonald of Perth visits Merrickville to minister to area Catholics.

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c.1820

Catholic churches built at Prescott and Brockville are served by one pastor whose united mission is spread through fifteen townships. Merrickville area Catholics can now be served from four surrounding priests' stations: Perth, Richmond, Prescott, and Brockville.

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1826-1832

The building of the Rideau Canal brings many Irish and French workers to the area. Many of them later settle in the vicinity (now Jasper and Kilmarnock) and join earlier Irish immigrants, becoming Merrickville's pioneer Catholic families.

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1827

Mass is said in the home of John Roche Sr. by Fr. John MacDonald of Perth. The Roche Farm was 7 miles from the Village. Sites of other Masses in the Mission include the homes of Michael Kelly, Mr. Fortier, and the blockhouse near the canal.

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1836

A former storehouse near the canal is purchased at a cost of 70 pounds and used for Masses once a month. This house was on the site of the parish's first church.

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1845

The cornerstone is laid for a new stone church (60x40 feet), built under Fr. Daniel Farrelly, Pastor of Kemptville and Merrickville. Mass was now said every second Sunday.

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1848

Bishop Patrick Phelan blesses the new church, dedicates it to St. Ann, mother of the Blessed Virgin, and consecrates the graveyard on the Maitland Road.

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1861-1875

Fr. William Harty enhances the church by purchasing a beautiful altar in Montreal and erecting the Stations of the Cross.

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1886

Fr. John P. Kelly becomes the first resident pastor for Merrickville. He had often served in the village before from his base in Smiths Falls.

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1887

The present brick rectory is built at a cost of some $4,000.

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1901

A fire seriously damages the old church. Archbishop Charles Hugh Gauthier approves the building of a new church at a cost of about $10,000.

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1902

The last Mass is celebrated in the burnt remains on April 6, 1902. On April 17, the foundation for a new church is laid out for excavating with the cornerstone of the new and present church laid on May 4. The first Mass is said in the new St. Ann's on December 14.

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1903

The church is dedicated by Archbishop C.H. Gauthier on October 11.

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1913

Archbishop Michael Joseph Spratt blesses the bell, giving it his own name: Michael Joseph.

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1914

The first separate school in the area, St. Francis de Sales, opens in Smiths Falls. Many Merrickville families begin sending their children there.

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1964

Fr. John Ferguson has a new main altar installed because of Vatican II calls for liturgical changes.

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1970s

Fr. William Powell has the church interior painted and redecorated.

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1991

The sacristy is transformed into a chapel for weekday Masses.

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1992

With leadership from Fr. Brian Hart and the Parish Council, the foundation is laid for the North Grenville Community Hospice. A Francophone separate school, Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys, is established in the old Town Hall (present-day Royal Canadian Legion).

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1995

The present Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys School is built at 306 Read Street.

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2002

On May 1, the parish opens the time capsule placed in St. Ann's cornerstone 100 years earlier. Planning begins for a 2003 time capsule to be assembled and placed in the same cornerstone niche.

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2003

The parish celebrates the centennial of the present church.

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2020-2021

The COVID-19 pandemic places limits on the number of parishioners able to attend Mass. The number of faithful per Mass was capped at 10, including the priest and organist.

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2022

The altar and tabernacle are installed in the centre, under the crucifix, again.

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Parish website is established and launched. Tourists and visitors can now easily connect with the Church, including joining us for worship, during their visit to the Village.

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Significant upgrades were made to the parish properties, including a new roof and front door for the rectory and the replacement of all exterior doors to the church building. New vestments and a new chalice and paten were purchased. 

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2023

The parish community celebrates 200 years of Catholicism in Merrickville.

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A parish logo is commissioned to celebrate our faith and the roots of our community. The creation of the visual identity opens new opportunities for fundraising. 

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The southwest chimney of the church was removed and capped as part of the parish's efforts to keep up with the maintenance costs associated with a century-old stone building.

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Amidst times of financial uncertainty, the parish community makes the difficult decision to divest some of its property holdings, including putting the vacant lot at 212 Main Street West on the market. The parish community receives permission from the Archdiocese of Kingston to sell the Rectory, marking the end of an era of having a resident pastor in Merrickville.

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Parish consultations begin to reimagine life after the sale of the Rectory.

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2024

Rev. Adaikalaraj Albert (Fr. Al) provides pastoral care and support to the parish for the first half of the year (temporary assignment).

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The parish publishes its first annual report, recounting the trials and successes of our bicentennial year.

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The sale of the vacant lot at 212 Main Street West is complete, enabling the parish to undertake some much needed restoration masonry work on the entire Church building. The parish community took the opportunity to repaint the belfry louvres and trim from white to grey. Repairs were made to the fascia, soffit, and eavestroughs. The cross atop the steeple was blown off during a windstorm. It was removed and capped to prevent further damage to the roof of the Church.