Immaculate Conception
Our History
After the War of 1812, the old Native American trail following the ridge, long used as the only access to the Niagara frontier, was improved to create the first major roadway of the area. It connected the territory between the Genesee River on the east and the Niagara River on the west, following a line parallel to and a few miles south of the shoreline of Lake Ontario. The new road, now known as Route 104, brought in early immigrants, most often from New England. In 1817 work began on the Erie Canal in Rome, New York. Many Irish laborers, most of them Catholic, were brought in for the construction, causing settlements like Middleport, Gasport, and Lockport to spring up. In the same period thousands of European immigrants entered the port of New York, and took the Erie Canal west; some settling here. By mid-century the new railroads brought more people into the area, but even then habitation in rural areas remained sparse and priests were rarely seen.
The entire state at this time was under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of New York, which had been established in 1808 with its headquarters in New York City. The Diocese was first divided in 1847 with the formation of the Buffalo and Albany Dioceses. The newly created Diocese of Buffalo included the Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties; an area of nearly 6,357 square miles. On October 17, 1847, Rev. John C. Timon, C.M., was consecrated in ceremonies at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City as the new Bishop of Buffalo.
While the small but rapidly growing population around Cambria was able to join the recently established churches of St. Peter's in Lewiston and John the Baptist in Lockport, their rural setting made it difficult for them to attend Mass regularly. Most had to travel miles by horseback or wagon; some had no other choice but to walk. To accommodate these worshipers, the Catholic community of Newfane was granted full status as a Catholic parish in the early summer of 1859. A one-acre plot of land on Ewing Road was donated by John Mulloy. On it, a small wood frame church was built and given the name of St. Bridget's at its dedication on November 30 of that year. Its first pastor was Rev. Thomas Sheehan. St. Bridget's ultimately assumed three rural missions bordering its territory: Somerset, Olcott, and Cambria. In 1859, the pastors of St. Bridget's began to serve Catholic families in the Cambria mission, meeting in private homes such as those of Anthony Madyn and Peter Ryan of Randall Road, Cornelius Shehee and Garrett Fitzgerald of Daniels Road, and Thomas Magorien of Church Road. Mr. Magorien and his then sixteen-year-old son, Thomas H., were said to have built an addition onto their home to accommodate the number of people attending Mass regularly in their living room.
In 1861, Rev. Hugh Mulholland was appointed the second pastor of St. Bridget's. In January of 1862, he bought a parcel of land in an apple orchard from Eliza Magorien for $75.00. This parcel would later be the location of the Cambria misson church.
The third pastor of St. Bridget's, Rev. Patrick Malloy, served between 1865 and 1868. He completed the little wooden church at Cambria mission, most likely between 1866 and 1868. The congregation of about 75 people came in horse and buggy over unpaved roads for the 10 a. m. Mass, sheltering their horses in a shed that was attached to the back of the church.
After Father Malloy's pastorate at Newfane ended in 1868; Father Patrick J. Cannon was the interim pastor for a few months before the arrival of Rev. Michael O'Dwyer, who remained in Newfane for four years. His successor was Rev. Thomas P. Brougham, who oversaw the 1873 purchase of 4-100ths of an acre of land from Sherman and Lucinda Elton on September 16, 1873, and another parcel next to the Cambria mission property from the Magoriens on January 9, 1875. These two properties completed the real estate holdings of the parish until 1925. Rev. John Charles Long was next appointed pastor of St. Bridget's in July of 1877, serving as pastor for seven years. After Father Long, Rev. M. O'Shea served as pastor for two years.
The eighth pastor of St. Bridget's, Rev. Michael J. Noonan, came to the parish in January of 1877, and served until April, 1895. The membership of Cambria mission had grown sufficiently to support a church of its own, so Father Noonan, on behalf of the mission's parishioners, petitioned Bishop Stephen V. Ryan to make Cambria an incorporated parish. Bishop Ryan approved the request and the mission was elevated to the full canonical status of 'parish'. The document of incorporation as a religious corporation under New York State law was filed in the Niagara County Clerk's office on March 31, 1891, bearing the official seal of New York State and the signature of Secretary of State, Frank Rice. The full title of the new parish was "Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church Society of North Ridge, New York". The document was also signed by Bishop Ryan, the Right Rev. William Gleeson, Vicar General of the Diocese, Rev. Noonan, and parish trustees Patrick Hartnett and Patrick O'Connell.
From 1891 to 1908, pastors at St. Bridget's served Immaculate Conception parish and the Olcott mission. After Father Noonan's departure in 1895, the Rev. John Francis Ryan came for a year, followed by Rev. David Joseph Ryan, who also served a one-year term. Rev. Thomas J. E. Blakeney was appointed in 1897 and served until 1902, building a new rectory at Newfane during his tenure. The Rev. John J. McMahon succeeded him for a brief time until Rev. John F. McGinn was appointed in 1903. Father McGinn's appointment to St. Bridget's continued until 1911. Rev. McGinn was the last pastor of Newfane to oversee the Cambria parish.
Those Who've Sheparded Us
Rev. Thomas Sheehan .... (1859-1861)
Rev. Hugh Mulholland ... (1861-1865)
Rev. Patrick A. Malloy ... (1865-1868)
Rev. Patrick J. Cannon ... (1868)
Rev. Michael J. O'Dwyer ... (1868-1872)
Rev. Thomas P. Brougham ... (1872-1876)
Rev. John Charles Long ... (1877-1884)
Rev. M. O'Shea ... (1884-1887)
Rev. Michael J. Noonan ... (1887-1895)
Rev. John Francis Ryan ... (1895-1896)
Rev. David Joseph Ryan ... (1896-1897)
Rev. Thomas J. E. Blakeney ... (1897-1902)
Rev. John J. McMahon ... (1901-1903)
Rev. John F. McGinn ... (1903-1908)
Rev. Daniel R. Kieran ... (1908-1920)
Rev. Vincent George McCarthy ... (1920-1939)
Rev. Edward Leo Roche ... (1939-1943)
Rev. Francis Edward Crowley ... (1943-1949)
Rev. Christopher J. Roche ... (1949-1956)
Rev. Francis P. Cronin ... (1956-1984)
Rev. Roy W. Crissy ... (1984-1988)
Rev. Herold M. Nuwer ... (1988-2004)
Rev. James O'Connor ... (2004-2008)
Rev. Joseph Badding ... (2009- )
