Our History

St. John's church 1854-1855 - 1919
St. John's church 1854-1855 - 1919

1916

Rev. Frank Corkery

Wednesday, November 1, 1916
The Ottawa Journal November 1st 1916

Rev. Frank Corkery. who was such a great favorite with St. Briget’s congregation, and also at the Glebe, when called there to act as curate after the departure of Father O’Gorman for the war, has been appointed parish priest of Osgoode church. Archbishop Gauthier thought he was too young yet to be given charge of a city parish.

Source: 
The Ottawa Journal

1917

South Osgoode

Monday, September 10, 1917
The Ottawa Journal Sep 10th 1917 part 1
The Ottawa Journal Sep 10th 1917 part 2
The Ottawa Journal Sep 10th 1917 part 3
The Ottawa Journal Sep 10th 1917 part 4
The Ottawa Journal Sep 10th 1917 part 5
The Ottawa Journal Sep 10th 1917 part 6
Major O'Gorman's Appeal
Source: 
The Ottawa Journal

New Catholic Church for Osgoode Parish

Saturday, September 22, 1917
The Ottawa Journal September 22nd 1917
The Ottawa Journal September 22nd 1917
The Ottawa Journal September 22nd 1917
Father Corkery to Build Edifice on Ottawa-Prescott Road.

Special to The Journal.

OSGOODE, Out., Sept 22. — Work is to be started Shortly on a new Roman Catholic church to replace the edifice now used by the members of St John’s parish, on the Ottawa-Prescott road about 4 miles from Osgoode Station, four from Bray's Crossing and five from Metcalfe. It win go up near the site of the structure used at present, which was erected 63 ago at what was then Dawson, P.O., by the fathers and grandfathers, largely pioneers out from Ireland, of the present members of the parish.

The new church, which will be of stone, will be built on much more pretentious plans than was possibly ever dreamed of by the families living there when the parish was founded over half a century ago by the late Rev. Thomas O'Boyle. It will be adorned with a high tower and will have a comfortable and commodious sacristy.

Rev. Father Frank Corkery, the present rector, and his parishioners decided to go ahead with the new church rather reluctantly, favoring deferring a start until after the war. However, the ravages of time have rendered the present building unsuitable for worship and it is absolutely necessary that it be replaced. The possibility of being able to erect the church at less cost within a decade after hostilities conclude is looked upon as doubtful.

There are about 70 families in St. John's parish, the majority of them prosperous farmers. The church will be on the proposed route of the new Ottawa-Prescott highway. When it is built, the 17 or so miles will make a pleasant Sunday morning run, which will no doubt appeal to many Ottawa motor car owners who are former members of the parish.

Rev. Father Frank Corkery is well known in Ottawa, where he attended university and for a time was pastor of Blessed Sacrament church. He was also curate at St. Bridget's church for a time. He is getting the whole-hearted support of his parishioners in the erection of the new church, plans for which have bean approved by His Grace Archbishop Gauthier. Former rectors of the parish were Fathers James McGowan, Edward Vaughan, Dawson, P. McGouey, T. J. Cole, Constantineau, W. McCauley and Brownrigg.

Source: 
The Ottawa Journal

Tender for Church

Tuesday, October 2, 1917
The Ottawa Journal October 2nd 1917

Bulk or separate tenders will be received up to noon of Saturday, October 6th, 1917, for the construction of a Church at South Osgoode, Ontario, Plans and specifications can be obtained from the office of the Architects, Messrs, Millson & Burgess, 407-10 Union Bank Building, Ottawa, Ont. Properly certified cheques for 5 percent of the amount of the tender, made payable to the Rev. Father J. Corkery, must be enclosed with the tender. Tenders must be addressed to Rev. Father F Corkery, Parish Priest South Osgoode, Ontario, plainly marked "Tender for Church."

Source: 
The Ottawa Journal

1918

Blessing of the Corner Stone

Sunday, June 2, 1918
Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967 for St. John the Evangelist

On Sunday the Second of June in the year of our lord one thousand nine hundred and eighteen. We the undersigned Major Routhier being duly authorized by his grace the most Rev. C. H. Gauthier D. D. Archbishop of Ottawa, have blessed with the prescribed solemnities the corner stone of St. John's parochial church of Osgoode, The said church built of stone is 105 feet long by forty two (42) feet wide and a wall (25) twenty five feet high, the plans were drawn by Richard Millson Archetect, the stone work was done by James Moore, the carpenter work by Mr. Joseph Meagher, the trustees were Messrs, Michael Herbert, John O'Callaghan, and John Deverix. Were present a great number of parishioners several members of the clergy who together with the architect trustees have signed the present act.

Source: 
Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967

Lay Corner-Stone New Osgoode Church

Monday, June 3, 1918
The Ottawa Journal June 3rd 1918
The Ottawa Journal June 3rd 1918
Mgr. Routhier Officiated Before Large Gathering.

The ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the new Roman Catholic church which is being erected in St. John the Evangelist parish, Osgoode, Ont., was conducted at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, by Mgr. Routhier, vicar-general of Ottawa diocese. Mgr. Routhier was assisted by Rev. Father Martin, who acted as master of ceremonies, and Rev. Father Prudhomme, of South Gloucester, and Rev. Father Gorman, of Metcalfe, Ont., who acted as deacon and sub-deacon respectively. More than two thousand people attended the ceremony. The sermon was preached by Rev. Father Finnigan, O. M. I., of St. Joseph's Church, Ottawa.

Members of the Roman Catholic clergy of Ottawa who attended the ceremony were: Rev. Father Fay, pastor of St. Brigid's Church, Rev. Fathers P. C. Harris, of the Blessed Sacrament Church, and Rev. Father Fitzgerald, of St. Mary's Church. The Ottawa Council of the Knights of Columbus, of which Rev. Father F. Corkery, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, is a member, was represented by a committee composed of E. P. Gleeson, F. X. Laderoute, and J. Vaughn.

The decorations on the platform erected to accommodate the attendants were arranged by Miss Moore and the ladles of the Tabernacle Society of St John's Church.

Source: 
The Ottawa Journal

Annual Picnic

Sunday, July 14, 1918
The Ottawa Journal July 14th 1918

The Annual Picnic of St. John's Church, Osgoode, Ont., will be held on Saturday. July 27th, at McEvoy's Grove. There will be a full program of sports for young and old. Busses and automobiles will leave the corner of Bank and Sunnyside avenue, for the convenience of Ottawa visitors, every hour from 12 p.m., July 27th.

Source: 
The Ottawa Journal

Baby Show at Osgoode Picnic

Friday, July 26, 1918
The Ottawa Journal July 26th 1918
The Ottawa Journal July 26th 1918
Rev. Frank Corkery Has Planned Many Features for Event.

Three Ottawa parishes with which Rev. Frank Corkery, now parish priest of Osgoode has been popularly Identified — St Brigid’s, the Blessed Sacrament Church at the Glebe, and St. Joseph’s — will send large contingents to his picnic on Saturday in Osgoode, near Greely’s Corners.

Mr. R. H. Millson of Ottawa, who is the Architect of the new St. John’s Church, in Osgoode, expects the imposing edifice now in course, of construction, to be ready for service this fall. St. John’s is one of the pioneer parishes of the Ottawa district and dats back to the day of By Town and Bishop Guigues.

Dr. Leech, Dr. Byres and Dr. Howard, of Ottawa, have consented to act as judges at the Osgoode Baby Show, which is a feature at Father Frank Corkery’s annual picnic in McEvoy’s grove on Saturday. Mrs. Millson and the Misses Laderoute will conduct the ladies fancy work auction. Several returned soldiers who were college friends of the Osgoode pastor, and his two brothers who are still in the uniform, will direct the athletic sports.

Source: 
The Ottawa Journal

Parish of St. John Will Erect Fine New Edifice

Saturday, July 27, 1918
The Ottawa Journal July 27th 1918
The Ottawa Journal July 27th 1918
Proposed new church to be erected by Parish of St. John, in South Osgoode

The parish of St. John in South Osgoode, Ont., will shortly boast of a fine new church which will be erected in the near future. Plans for the new church have been completed and as soon as sufficient funds are forthcoming, construction will be commenced. The parish is under the capable and energetic direction of Rev. Father Frank Corkery, an old Ottawa College boy, who before taking charge of this large and flourishing parish, was curate at St. Brigid's Church, where he was identified with the Rev. Father Fay.
Father Corkery, in his brief ministry at Osgoode, has won the respect and admiration of all classes of the citizens. The new church is the direct outcome of his enthusiastic endeavours and will be a fitting monument to his work. Messrs. Millson and Burgess are the architects who have designed the church, and their plans have resulted in a simple and imposing structure. The appeal for funds to meet the building expense has so far been very satisfactory, and Father Corkery is delighted with the progress made. It is proposed to hold a series of euchres and concerts during the coming winter, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to defraying the cost of the building of the church. All the parishioners are heartily supporting Father Corkery in his work of giving to South Osgoode a fine new church.

Rev. Father Frank Corkery.
Parish Priest of South Osgoode, Ont. Father Corkery took his Arts courses at Ottawa College, and was ordained from the Grand Seminary, Montreal. He is the son of Mr. John Corkery, of Pakenham, and has been successively at St. Brigid’s and Blessed Sacrament parishes as curate. Father Corkery’s two brothers are both in khaki.

 

Source: 
The Ottawa Journal

Postponed Picnic

Monday, July 29, 1918
The Ottawa Journal July 29th 1918
The Ottawa Journal July 29th 1918
The Ottawa Journal July 29th 1918
Only Half Programme Carried Out at Osgoode

The annual picnic of St. John's Church of Osgoode took place on Saturday afternoon at McEvoy's Grove at Osgoode. Despite the fact the rain fell several times during the afternoon, nearly 1,500 people attended. Only half of the programme was completed owing to the rain, and it is the intention of Rev. Father Corkery to rearrange the programme and hold the picnic again for the benefit of his parish.

However, the Knights of Columbus Minstrels made up for the part of the programme which was canceiled and gave over an hour's performance to the large crowd. Their new jokes and songs appealed to the spectators, and they drew much applause. The baseball game, the baby show and several other events were cancelled owing to the rain, but the other results were:

Standing broad jump -- 1, E. Evaire; 2, Cunningham.
Running broad jump, 1, G. Willis; 2, F. Terrany.
100 Yard dash, 1, G. Willis and E. Evaire tied.
220 Yard dash, 1, G. Willis; 2, E. Evaire.
High jump, 1, Cunningham; 2, E. Evaire.

Father Corkery was in charge of the programme, while M. M. O'Connel was in charge of the sports.

 

Source: 
The Ottawa Journal