In an early history from which we have received many of these insights into the past, Father Cornelius J. Kane, pastor of St. Magdalen's from 1939 until 1949, wrote that there was no record of a priest coming to Flemington from 1848 until 1853. We do know that in 1853 the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Lambertville, (built in 1843), became a canonically erected parish and that in 1854, Bishop Bayley appointed the Reverend Francis L. M. Jego, a French priest, as its second resident pastor, an action that was to have a profound effect upon our own development.
As pastor of St. John's, Father Jego came monthly on weekdays to Flemington, and said Mass either at the home of Miles Cunningham, Williams and Joseph Purcell, Nicholas Barry, or Daniel White. With only one or two other families and a few hired girls these families comprised the bulk of his congregarion here. According to Father Kane, "It was Miles Cunningham who received much of the praise given by the priests at that time, for it was he who gathered the people together Sunday after Sunday and in the absence of the priest recited the rosary and Mass prayers."
The story is often told how the small group took courage and began to plan for its first church. At a meeting at the home of Miles Cunningham in 1858, the decision was made to purchase a lot from Sheriff Bonnell and in less than a year a little wooden church, twenty-four by thirty-four feet, was erected. At its completion, Bishop Bayley journeyed to Flemington to join Father Jego in dedicating the new house of God to St. Magdalen de Pazzi. On this occasion the Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to six candidates, among whom were the man who would become the Very Reverend Dean Mulligan, his brother, Michael, and Sheriff Corcoran.
In 1861, Father Jego returned to France and the pastoral care of the Flemington Catholics fell under the jurisdiction of the pastors of St. Ann Church in Hampton. Eight years later it reverted to Lambertville.
During this period the needs of a growing Catholic population, who economy was boosted by the railroads that had recently come into the area, called for more room. Under the direction of Reverend B. Henry Ter Woert, pastor of St. John's, Flemington's Catholic Church was replaced in 1879 by a gracious white frame building, thirty-seven by sixty-six feet, almost doubling the first structure's original facilities.
When the Diocese of Trenton was erected as the second New Jersey diocese in November, 1881, St. Magdalen's was under the spiritual ministrations of the pastors of High Bridge, placed there in 1880 and destined to remain in their care until December 21, 1902 when Reverend Thomas Rudden would by appointed the first resident pastor of Flemington by Bishop James A. McFaul, with Clinton and Stockton as St. Magdalen's missions.
A PARISH IS BORN
It wasn't a parish yet when Jon Foran came west from Port Chester, New York, in 1892, and purchased what was then the Johnson Foundry.
Swelling the ranks of workers he brought along with him were a number of Catholics who made the trip from Port Chester to Flemington with the high hopes and enthusiasm characteristic of the more than three million immigrants who would reach American's shores before the decade was over. In the old country, religion was a way of life, accepted as part of the routine of daily living. Source of comfort, in the the new country it became a major force in holding the familiy together. These people, so bereft of most of life's luxuries needed and wanted the soothing ministrations of their church and the constant presence of a man of God in their midst, and to this end they devoted much of their energies.
Father Kane tells us that the activity and interest of the parishioners in their church was evidenced in 1901 when the Altar and Rosary Society financed the remodeling of the entrance to the church, and the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Snowball accounted for the decorating of the interior.
The designation of "parish" in the banner year of 1902 brought their first full-time pastor, Reverend Thomas Rudden, former curate at St. Bernard Church, Raritan. Shortly after he arrived, the open-handed generosity of John Foran, who was noted for his gifts to the church, permitted Father Ruddent to install electric lights and a new heating system - the pride of the parishioners must have been excusably great for their church was one of the first buildings in this area to have electricity.
Father Rudden remained as pastor of Flemington until March, 1904, when he was transferred to St. Joseph Church, Bound Brook. He was replaced by Reverent John E. Murray (later Right Reverend Monsignor). Monsignor Murray was here but a short time when he purchased a house from Theodore Bellis for use as the rectory. The care of the church in Fleminton remained with the monsignor from 1904 until May, 1907. He, in turn, was replaced by Reverend William I. McKean (later Right Reverend Monsignor), who was pastor until January, 1911. Reverend Edward A. Cahill (also to become Right Reverend Monsignor), was in charge from January 1911, to August, 1912.
Following Father Cahill's tenure as pastor, Father Thomas F. Kearns became pastor, remaining until April 1914. According to the parish minutes of 1912, a resolution was adopted which appropriated six hundred and fifty dollars to be used for teh purchase of an additional tract of land at St. Mary Cemetery, located on Bonnell Street. The note was signed and executed by the Right Reverend Bishop James A. McFaul. This money was also to be used to beautify and improved the physical appearance of the cemetery.
In 1914, Reverend Edward C. Mannion assumed the pastorate of St. Magdalen's beginning what would be the longest tenure in the church thus far, thirteen years. While he as in Flemington, another tract of land, leading from Capner Street to the cemetery was purchased for six hunderd dollars. Reverend Neil A. Monney, who replaced him in 1927, was to stay until April 3, 1938.
Through a world war and Depression parishioners increased. Three and four generations had followed the original families. They attended Mass and confession, had their children baptized, their weddings sanctified, and their dead laid to rest from this church and now the need of a larger building in the not too distant future was apparent. Reverend Cornelius J. Kane, arrived in 1938, began immediately to set the the wheels in motion. In February of 1941, a building fund drive was started with the hope of realizing sufficient funds for the enlarging and improving of the church. The response on the part of the parishioners was so gratifying that it was decided to raze the old church and build a new one. While construction was taking place, the old Flemington High School auditorium on Bonnell Street was used for Massess. By Christmas of 1941, the congregation was able to hold its first Mass within the walls of the new church. The laying of the cornerstone and dedication of the new Church of St. Magdalen de Pazzi, Flemington took place on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1942. Pius XII was the reigning Pope, the Most Reverend Willian Griffin was bishop and the young and visionary Reverend Cornelius J. Kane was pastor.
