History

History

Photo by Michael Alexander

Parish History

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church has a rich history of faith, service, and Christian witness in the West End of Atlanta, GA spanning over the past 120 years. The idea of building a Catholic church in the West End was conceived in 1902 by Mrs. Esther LaRose Harris, wife of Joel Chandler Harris, the famous author of the Uncle Remus stories. Mrs. Harris and a group of Catholic women met at her home (The Wren’s Nest) to discuss the lack of satisfactory transportation to a Catholic church and schools to meet the needs of Catholic families in the West End community. As a result of their meeting, the women organized the Catholic Ladies Aid Society and convinced church leaders to establish a church in the West End.

The first Mass in the parish was celebrated on the Feast of St. Anthony, June 13, 1903, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Corley at 742 Laton Street SW. The congregation consisted of a total of fifty-five men, women, and children, representing twenty-four families. The parish was dedicated formally on September 20, 1903 at a solemn Mass celebrated by Bishop Benjamin Keily. Concelebrating were Father John Gunn, SM, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, and Father O.N. Jackson, St. Anthony’s first pastor. The parish soon outgrew the house it had purchased on a lot that straddled Gordon and Ashby Streets. In 1911, ground was broken and a cornerstone laid for the basement of the new St. Anthony Church. The present church building was dedicated on January 15, 1924.

The St. Anthony School, located at 651 Asbhy Street, opened in 1912 with two Sisters of Mercy teaching first and second grades. This facility was replaced in 1917 when a parishioner, Miss Hannah Kuhn, gave the parish a building located on the site of the present school building on Gordon Street (now Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW). That same year, the Sisters of St. Joseph began instructing the students. The parish school closed in the spring of 2001.

In 1932, West End parishioners began publishing the Chronicles of Atlanta Catholicism: St. Anthony’s Catholic News. This citywide publication continued until 1962 and its volumes are an invaluable source of Catholic history in Atlanta.

The church facility has undergone three major renovations. In 1940, parishioners raised over $40,000 to replace the roof and refurbish the building. Then again, in 1994-96, the church underwent a major renovation of the roof, sanctuary, and parish hall. In 2022, the parish completed a capital campaign to renovate the sanctuary, nave, vestibule, sacristy, bathrooms, parish hall, and kitchen. A stairwell connecting the parish hall to the back of the nave was constructed and new kitchen equipment was installed. A state-of-the-art lighting and new sound system were introduced with advanced capacities for live-streaming.

A long line of dedicated priests, sisters, and laity including pastors: Harry Clark, James Conlin, Joseph Croke, Joseph Smith, James King, Donald Kiernan, Michael McKeever, Eusebius Beltran, John Adamski, Bruce Wilkinson, Hugh Marren, Thomas Meehan, Craig David, Anthony Curran, Timothy A. Gadziala, and Victor A. Galier have provided service and leadership for the parish over the past 120 years. Father Desmond Drummer is the current pastor as of July 1, 2023.

St. Anthony was the third Catholic community to be established in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The parish is home to over 400 families and includes a wonderful mixture of both long established parish families and newer members. The community continues to celebrate and foster the tradition of faith and service demonstrated by all the people who have gone before and who have made our Church family a strong witness to Christian fellowship and outreach.

9 Comments

    Barry Donnelly

    Looking for St. Athony’s church west end Atlanta….
    great grandfather was one of the people who help build this church. built in the late 1800 or early 1900…His name was Capt. James J. Donnelly wifes name was Julia fisher Donnelly

    AdminStAnthony

    Thanks for looking us up!
    The current church was dedicated in the 1920s, but the parish was started in 1903. You should come visit some time!
    We are grateful for the sacrifices made by your family members to help start the parish.

    Elizabeth M. Newby

    I went to St. Anthony’s School in the 1960’s. Then to St. Joseph’s High School in the 1970’s. Class of 1974. Lived in West End my entire childhood. Lived in a big house with six kids in it directly behind the school. Sister Lillian and Sister Marcella were my role models.

    I’m so happy that the church is still alive even if it is a different name.

    Any response is a good response.

    AdminStAnthony

    Hello! Wonderful to have your history with the parish and the school. Please stop by to visit us next time you are in the area.

    John Guzzino

    Me and my sibs attending St Anthonys in the early 1960s, military for the boys, marching and drilling in our grey uniforms in the parking lot and having marching “parade days” at Ft McPherson. Sister Lillian was my sister’s favorite. Sister Marcella taught the 8th grade “seniors” and, despite her reputation as a disciplinarian around school, was a kind and gentle taskmaster.
    Explored the belfry at the Church (secret ladder inside the organ mechanism took us up to the little room untouched since 1911… still there??) . Sister Delores bragged proudly about her Hollywood star niece, Delores Hart. Served mass, felt like I got a really good preparation for eventually attending Marist and on to adulthood.

    Jim Hurst

    Saw St. Anthony’s mentioned in a Marist publication I received recently. Caused me to do some looking.
    I attended from midyear in the 5th grade (1948) through the 8th. Then on to Marist – the only choice back then – then Tech.
    Raised in West End on Hopkins Street on the dead end street heading towards West View Drive.
    Back then there were RR tracks behind the house heading towards one of the Repair yards. All gone now.

    Laura Young

    I attended St Anthony’s 1st grade thru first half of 6th grade in 1959/early 60’s, back when it was on Gordon St. Is the convent still there?
    There was Sister Rebecca (1st grade), Sister Rebecca (2nd), Mrs. Enlow (3rd), Mrs.Lesure (4th), Mrs. Farthing (5th), then the nun that no one wanted at all…Sister Agnes Catherine; she had the reputation of picking out one student every year to bully; no one wanted her.…but I was the lucky one. She bullied me so terribly that my Dad had a “chat” with her, and pulled me out of SA, and transferred me to EL Connelly. My grades shot up from there. Thank you, Mom and Dad
    My Dad was days away from becoming a priest in the early 40s, and decided at the last minute that he wanted a wife and family. Of course, I had no idea about this until my Dad passed away. My Mom showed my sister and me a picture of Dad in his robe, etc.; now it all made sense: Dad would always have Monsignor King and Father Leahy and others come play cards and smoke cigars in our dining room. I believe a few beers were enjoyed as well. The church was always very beautiful and special to me, and I hope it’s being maintained. Thank you for letting me share my thoughts and memories.
    P.S. My 3 older brothers finished St Anthony; one finished St Pius; the other 2 finished at St Joe.

    Richard Hull

    My mother’s family were long time members of the parish, living on Queen Street. My parents were married in Saint Anthony Church in 1948. My maternal grand mother, Margarete Ryan, worked for decades in the 40s 50s and 60s at Saint Anthony School… she was the head cook…or “dietician” as she liked to say.

    Katy Cleary

    My parents were married there in Nov 1942.
    They were married almost 60 years when my dad passed. They had 9 children. Five of us are still alive. Best parents ever!

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