Parish History

1836A log chapel is built to serve the Catholic community in March Township (now Kanata), Ontario.
1840The chapel is blessed as a Mission of St. Patrick Fallowfield by Bishop Bourget of Montreal on a trip through the Ottawa Valley.
1850The chapel is enlarged.
1861The first baptism registered in the parish was John Fahey, son of William Fahey and Margaret King by Fr. M. Molloy.
1864The first marriage was performed on November 9, uniting Michael Fahey, son of John Fahey and Nancy Kinly, with Elizabeth, daughter of William Tracey and Rachel Day. Witnesses to the wedding were Robert Shirley and Bridget Tracey; the presiding priest Rev. D. Orebuel.
1869The first funeral was on July 12 for Michael Ahearn, 75 years old; the priest was Fr. Molloy, the witnesses were Pat Carroll and Pat Murphy.
1883"The Mission of March" is called "St. Isidore" by Archbishop Joseph Thomas Duhamel of Ottawa in a pastoral letter.
1887The present church is built. It is blessed by Archbishop Duhamel on October 9.
1891A 740-pound bell, which was christened St. Anne, is purchased from Mr. Henry McShane. It was blessed by Archbishop Duhamel on November 15.
1898A five-acre field was purchased, a cemetery was established, and a rectory was under construction.
1899The rectory was completed.
1900Rev. Thomas John Brownrigg became the first full-time resident priest of the parish.
1922Electricity came to St. Isidore. $974 was spent on wiring and fixtures for the church and rectory.
1924The first telephone bill amounting to $20.28 for the year was paid to the Monk Rural Telephone Company.
1927Under the direction of Fr. John Cunningham, 35 ladies of the parish gathered in the rectory to form St. Isidore Catholic Women's League.
1934Fr. Philip C. Harris organized the installation of the memorial stained glass windows. Indoor plumbing was installed in the rectory at a cost of $322.44.
1946The beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was installed on the front lawn of the rectory.
1961A new organ was purchased for $1,595. Around this time, the beautiful lighted cross was donated by Ed and Laura Kennedy and installed in the steeple.
1966The church interior is changed to conform to the new liturgy and language changes made under Vatican II. No longer would the priest face away from the congregation, chanting in Latin to an ornate high altar. Now the Mass would be said in the local language and the people would expected to participate in the liturgy by responding audibly and singing where appropriate. The high altar and communion rail were removed, new platforms were built and confessionals added to the back of the church and removed from the sacristy. The total cost of the renovations amounted to $65,000. Sunday masses were held in St. Isidore School until renovations were completed in 1967.
1976Fr. Francis J. McEvoy encouraged the ladies of the parish to re-establish the Catholic Women's League which had faded from lack of support in the early 1970's.
1979The church hall was opened.
1987The 100th anniversary of the church was celebrated.


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