Between the years of 1830 to 1840, the population of Chelsea had increased from 771 to 2390. By 1850, the population had jumped to 6702, predominantly due to Irish immigration. The Irish were the first immigrants to come to America in large sudden groups. The ships the Irish traveled on were freight carriers heading for America to pick up goods for European markets. The immigrants were used as ballast for the trip. The port of embarkation, was wherever the vessel's business took it. East Boston was one of these ports. From East Boston the immigrant groups would move into the North End of Boston or settle in Chelsea. In Chelsea, the Irish settled in the area of Chester Avenue, Highland, Cottage, and Maverick Streets.
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The Irish Catholic religion in Ireland had been reviled, they now had freedom of religion in America. Unfortunately, the nearest Catholic Church was St. Nicholas in East Boston (now the Church of the Holy Redeemer}. In 1844, a meeting of thirty persons took place in the Bellingham Street home of Orestes Brownson, a prominent convert. A Mass was celebrated by Rev. Nicholas O'Brien, Pastor of St. Nicholas Church, East Boston, to initiate the creation of the parish of St. Rose, Chelsea. Not until May 1846 was a priest available for assignment to Chelsea. Rev. Patrick Rattigan was appointed the first pastor of St. Rose for a very brief pastorate. In the Summer of 1847, the second pastor Rev. John O'Beirne, obtained the use of Guild's Hall on Winnisimmet Street for Sunday Mass. During the pastorate of Rev. Charles Smith, 1849, a large double house on Cottage Street near Shawmut Street was acquired for church and rectory. |
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Orestes A. Brownson |
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The church progressed without incident until 1854, the year the "Knownothing Society" was active in creating uprisings against foreigners and Catholics. Chelsea experienced a part in this uprising, when a prominent member of this society, calling himself "Angel Gabriel" and blowing a horn, led a group of followers for a raid on the St. Rose Church on Cottage Street. Minor damage was caused by the group before being driven off by fifty policemen, hastily appointed by the Selectmen, and the militia. This same group was responsible for the complete destruction by fire, of the Ursaline Convent in Charlestown, a couple of nights before. |
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St Rose Church - Cottage St. - 1849 |
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Due to the continued influx of immigrants, the population in 1860, had increased to 13,395. This influx was mostly Irish Catholic immigrants. A larger church was urgently needed. A piece of land was acquired on the west side of Broadway near the railroad bridge. On August 30, 1866, a beautiful Gothic structure was dedicated as the new St. Rose Church under the pastorate of Rev. Patrick Strain. The following year, 1867, Rev. James McGlew began a pastorate that would span thirty six years. In 1871, a girls' grammar and high school were constructed. The schools were run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The Sisters of Notre Dame were not allowed to teach males beyond the primary grades. |
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St Rose Church - Broadway. - 1866 |
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The boys had to wait until 1889 when the Sisters of Notre Dame left St. Rose and the Sisters of Providence came to teach. Rev. McGlew also built a convent for the nuns, a vestry to the church, and a rectory. When Rev. McGlew passed away in 1903, his remains were interred in a crypt in the lower church. |
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St Rose Church and School - Broadway. |
Rectory of St. Rose Parish |
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The Great Chelsea Fire of 1908, (Link to the 1908 fire) |
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The disastrous fire of 1908, destroyed the church, school and convent. The nuns were moved into the rectory at 39 Crescent Avenue and the priests moved into 16 Tudor Street. In 1917 the nuns took over 16 Tudor Street as a convent and the priests moved back to 39 Crescent Avenue. The parish recovered quickly after the fire. Within a matter of months a new church and a new school were operating on the same site. |
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Burned remains of St. Rose Church - 1908 |
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St. Rose Convent - 16 Tudor St. |
St. Rose Church and School Today |
The Girls' High School was closed for financial reasons, in 1987. The school still educates students in grades K to 8. The "Little St. Rose" a wood two story satellite school in Mill Hill was closed and sold to the French Club in 1945. A new rectory building was built directly across the street from the church. The old rectory building was sold to a developer. St. Rose began to manage the affairs of the Assumption Church until it was sold. Today, St. Rose offer masses weekly in English, Spanish, Cambodian and Vietnamese.