St. Mary's Parish is the second oldest Catholic Church in London, Ontario. It's inception extends back to May 21, 1872 when the Catholic community purchased a piece of land on Hill Street between Maitland and Colborne Street. The land waspurchased for a new church, as the congregation at St. Peter's Basilica had become too large for Sunday masses.

           The first church was 85 feet by 45 feet, and was offically dedicated on May 10, 1874. The total cost for the building was $4000. It was an extrodinary church with printed names on the pews and an area for the choir. Soon the church community expanded, and St. Mary's was unable to accomodate all its parishoners. In addition,  the church caught fire in April 1901. It was reported that there was no known cause for the fire, but it sped up the process of creating a new church.

          The blue-collar comnuity of St. Mary's began fundraising, and in the summer of 1901, they were able to purchase property on Lyle Street next to Holy Angel's School. on July 28, 1901 the cornerstone was laid and over $1200 was raised from the day's events. The church was finally openedon May 25, 1902, and the school next door was renamed St. Mary's School. It would later become London's only choir school.

The church was built of grey sandstone in the Gothic style. It measured 135 feet by 50 feet, and 80 feet tall with a 152 foot spire. It was described at its opening as: "A grey-stone building fashioned by the hands of men had become a House of God."

          Renovations began only six years later. In 1908 the rectory was built seperate from the church. In 1914 new altars were purchased for St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary. The church was again closed in 1926 for renovations, but reopened on October 1, 1926. Renovations would not take place again until the 1950's under the leadership of Rev. W. T. "Tex" O'Rourke. It's last renovations occurred in 2000 on the bell tower and spire.

         St. Mary's is rather unique in that it was run by cultural communities long before it became known as London's "Italian Church." From 1927-1952 various cultural groups celebrated mass at St. mary's using their own priests and conducting the masses in their own languages. Specifically the Ukranian and Polish people of London had their own masses. An interesting note is that Our Lady of Czestochowa was founded by Polish members of St. Mary's church. In the 1960's St. Mary's transformed into an Italian-Canadian dominated congregation. On August 4th, 1968 the church held the first celebration of Madonna Della Libera, (Our Lady of Freedom). Since 1968 St. Mary's catered to the Italian community and celebrates other Italian based feast days, like Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which occurs July 16th every year. In this way St. Mary's Parish is a religious and cultural center. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S  PARISH