Tour of the Church

Welcome to St. Bridget Church. This building is the fifth structure built by the parishioners of this parish. The first structure was burned by arsonists in 1861. The second building was soon built and moved from a location in the cemetery to a hilltop approximately 1/2 mile away. The third structure was a rock church constructed in 1871. The fourth was a wood structure used temporary as a church from approximately 1902 through 1908. It later was used as a parish hall. The present church building was completed in 1908, except for the church steeple. It was to be added later when more funds were available. As you can see, those funds were never available.

You see St. Bridget gazing down upon you from her place on the front steeple. Let us walk through the front doors now.

To the left of the inner doors is a portrait of Patrick McGrath, the gentleman who donated the original ten acres the church was built upon. To the right is a picture of Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker, who saved the church building from destruction and encouraged us to form a historical society. Once that was accomplished, he deeded the church and grounds to the historical society. These two gentleman are very special to our church.

Looking to the left side of the entranceway, one sees portraits of the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Mother, both very important in the lives of the Irish people.

As you go through the inner doors, you look west toward the main altar.

As you stand before the main altar, you notice three niches with statues in each one. These three Irish saints are St. Bridget (middle), St. Patrick (right) and St. Columba or Columbkille (left).

Continuing on with our tour, we look at the statues that were refinished in 1994 by Johnson Restoration of Vermillion, Kansas. Members of the St. Bridget Historical Society financed this project.

Click here to view the individual statues

In 1992, Archbishop Strecker commented that these windows were some of the best stain-glass windows he has ever seen here in America or in Europe. We gladly exhibit our windows that we believe were created in the 1880's and transferred into this church when it was completed in 1908. Realize that a camera can never adequately capture the real beauty and color of any stain-glass window.

Click here To view the stain-glass windows

Music at St. Bridget's was supplied by a pump organ. Before electricity was available, an organist had to have strong leg muscles to play this musical instrument. Shortly before the parish closed in 1967, the parish retired this organ because of the cost on repairing it was more than they could afford. A small electric organ was obtained and used in the final years. One of the first things the St. Bridget Historical Society did was raise funds and restore this beautiful pump organ. It is again used at our services at St. Bridget.

The Baptismal Font was renovated in 1994 by the Terry Stallbaumer family in memory of their son Nicholas, who was our St. Bridget official greeter. Nicholas, age 11, died in a farming accident.

The Confessional was an important part in the sacramental life of the parish. Notice the cloth curtains. Could not talk very loud or everyone would know your sins.

The Nativity set used by the parish is now on permanent display in the back of the church.

If you climb the balcony staircase, you will see the following view from the balcony or choir loft.

As you leave through the front doors, this sight catches your eye - You can see for miles. It is not hard to understand why our ancestors wanted this spot for the church.