St. Philip Parish and St. Clare Mission

Amazing Live Easter service hope to visit someday in person.

Feel good church!

The village of Richmond was established in 1818 as a military settlement for disbanded soldiers. In August of that year the site of the village was laid out; by the end of the year some 400 families had taken up residence in the area. In 1819 Alexander Macdonell, a former military chaplain who that same year was named Episcopal Vicar in charge of Upper Canada under the authority of the Bishop of Quebec, said the first mass. Father Sweeney of Perth was then asked to look after Richmond as a mission until 1822 when Father Patrick Haran was sent there by Bishop Macdonell, who had jurisdiction before the diocese of Bytown was created. Mass was said in the local school until 1825 when a wooden chapel was built. In 1827 Father Haran was moved to Bytown to care for the spiritual needs of the Irish Catholics brought in to work on the building of the Rideau Canal. His successors served both Bytown and Richmond until 1836, when Father Terrence Smith was sent to St. Philip’s. He was a large man and used his bulk to good effect in breaking up battles during the local fairs. In his History of the Ottawa Valley published in l896 J. L. Gourlay described him as “of gigantic stature, and when mounted on a splendid charger with a long whip, or even on foot, he was a terror to evildoers.”

Great church

Welcoming Catholic Church community.

Lovely place in a little town.

Beautiful church in a peaceful location. The hall is amazing for entertaining. Had my wedding there and got the red carpet treatment. Highly recommended

Good people