A Legacy of Faith
A Legacy of Faith
Welcome to the digital home of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church. Nestled in the heart of the rural Ottawa Diocese, our parishes are more than just stone and mortar—they are the living breath of a community rooted in the soil and the spirit since 1854.
saint john the evangelist
| John McEvoy | |
The church of St John the Evangelist is situated on the Old Prescott Rd. in Osgoode Township (now Regional Rd. 25), 16 miles from the City of Ottawa. As early as 1834 the Bytown-Prescott Stage Coach passed this way. The land was donated; one acre, part of lot 19 con. 3 by Patrick McEvoy and wife Cecelia Doyle, and three acres, part of lot 20 con. 3 by John McEvoy and wife Anastacia Powers.
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The original church built in 1854 and burnt down in 1919.To share a story...
SAINT BRIGID
The parish of St. Brigid's was founded August 2, 1854. It was to provide a great need to accommodate a Catholic settlement whose closest church at that time was South Gloucester, a distance of about eight miles. After choosing a location at Prescott Road for a Parish Church, St. John the Evangelist, Bishop Guigues accompanied by Father Pellier set out on horseback to search for a location of a Mission Parish somewhere in the Manotick area, to serve a Catholic population of 37 families, mostly Irish descent. Tradition has it that the party stopped at a height of land just off the Rideau River about halfway between the Villages of Osgoode and Manotick. Being near noon, they had lunch which consisted of bread and butter with boiled goose eggs.
After lunch the bishop thought that there was no need of going any further and the decision was made that this was the place for a church. The land was purchased from Dennis Connors Sr., part of lot 13, and his son Dennis Connors Jr., part of lot 12. There was a lapse of four years before the church, a small stone structure 30 ft. by 40 ft., was solemnly blest by Bishop Guigues on June 10, 1858. The church was enlarged to almost double the size a few years later. In 1858 the bishop added almost an equal number of families from the other side of the river from North Gower Township.
The Church Bell of Saint John the Evangelist
The church bell at Saint John the Evangelist in Enniskerry is far more than a simple instrument of iron and sound; it is the rhythmic heartbeat of a community that has echoed through the valley for generations. For over a century, its deep, resonant toll has served as the ultimate narrator of parish life—singing out in joyous celebration for weddings, calling the faithful to Sunday Mass, and offering a slow, somber salute to those being laid to rest. To hear the bell is to hear the history of Enniskerry itself, but to see Mr. Michael Daley take the rope is to see that history come alive. On the occasion of his 95th birthday, Michael stood in the belfry not just as a parishioner, but as a living bridge to the past. As he reached for the well-worn rope, he carried the legacy of a family whose roots in this parish stretch back through the mists of time, spanning countless generations of Daleys who have walked these same stone floors. When Michael rings the bell, the sound carries a special weight. It isn't just a summons; it is a testament to endurance and faith. Each strike of the clapper reflects a lifetime of devotion—ninety-five years of witnessing the parish change while the spirit of the community remained as steady as the bell’s own bronze song. As the notes drifted over the rooftops and into the surrounding hills, they carried a simple, powerful message: that while seasons change and years pass, the heart of Saint John the Evangelist beats as strong as ever, guided by the steady hands of those who truly know its soul.
The Alter at Saint John the Evangelist
Dedicated in loving memory of the McEvoy ancestors—the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who first laid a foundation of faith and family in this community. This altar, meticulously crafted in 1985 by the late Walter McEvoy, stands as a testament to their enduring legacy. Walter’s devoted craftsmanship also graces this sanctuary through the beautifully built back reredos for the statues, the presider’s chair, and the lectern. May the work of his hands continue to uplift the faithful for generations to come.
