ST. CECILIA’S
- Program
- Subject
- Location
- Lat/Long
- Grant Recipient
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NYS Historic
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Religion
- 3014 Bartz Rd, Strykersville, NY 14145, USA
- 42.737426, -78.417657
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Town of Sheldon
ST. CECILIA’S
Inscription
ST. CECILIA’SROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
EST. 1848. MEMBERS BUILT
THIS CHURCH 1889 - 1891
FROM LOCALLY QUARRIED
STONE CUT BY HAND.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2023
In the town of Sheldon in Wyoming County, New York, St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church was established in 1848. Prior to this, the predominantly German-speaking population was served by Catholic itinerant priests from the Buffalo area. By 1848, the parish had been established and a wooden church had been built at the intersection of what is now North Sheldon, Bartz, and Centerline Roads.
As the community of Sheldon grew, the decision was made around 1885 to replace the wooden church with a larger church made of stone. Work began in 1889, with the cornerstone laid in October of that year. Church members built this new church of stone quarried on the farm of John Almeter, just north of the site of the church. The stone was cut by hand, and the work of stacking the stones was overseen by local stonemason and church member, Frank Felton.
By December 3, 1891, the Wyoming County Times reported that a Thanksgiving social had been held the previous week at the completed St. Cecilia’s church. As of 2023, St. Cecilia’s, now part of the St. John Neumann Parish, is observing its 175th anniversary.
