Immaculate Conception Church at 100 Chapel Road, Pulaski, TN 38478 US - Our History 1840-1941
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Our History 1840-1941 |
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| Picture at St. Augustine's Built 1871 |
The Catholic Church has had a long history in the Pulaski, Giles County community. The first Catholic priest was reported to have preached in the area in 1840. By 1847 a mission stations associated with the railroad and the Irish immigrants who worked on the railroad was established. One source lists a church by the name of St. Patricks's in 1860. No building is mentioned and it may have been only the name of the community that met in a private home.
St. Augustine’s was founded in 1871 on a lot purchased from Thomas Martin for $200. J.B. Stacey and George W. McGrew signed the note on the deed along with Fr. Orengo.
Giles Press for Thursday, Sept. 14, 1871 reports:
“We are glad to know that the chapel in South Pulaski is sufficiently near completion to have a regular service….The members of the church are making efforts to raise the necessary funds to carry out this object. We hope our citizens will contribute toward this good work”
The October 19. 1871 issue lists it among the Presbyterian, Methodist, Church of the Messiah, and Cumberland Presbyterian Church as having services the third Sunday of the month at 10:30AM. Rev. P.L. Hendricks is listed as Pastor.
The October 26, 1871 issue describes the dedication and comments
“We are glad that our Catholic friends here have now a good place for worship and we hope that many of the prejudices entertained by our people will be removed by frequent attendance on the services at the Chapel, and by hearing the learned and able discourses by the ministers of the Catholic faith.”
Inside of St. Augustine's