Forgotten Church at Risley

Spung-Man

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Jan 5, 2009
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Richland, NJ
loki.stockton.edu
I was helping a friend delineate reputed old Catholic church in Estell Manor that no one could remember. Jerseyman kindly offered to run with the few clues I had to go on. As usual, he did not disappoint. Here’s three relevant excerpts from Leahy’s (1906) The Catholic Church of the Diocese of Trenton, N.J., which is available online:

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Risley, Atlantic County, N. J.
(Risley is an old name for Estell Manor)
St. George's Church.
The first Mass was said at Risley by Rev. Aloysius Pozzi of East Vineland. This was on March 17, 1898, and the people gathered in the public school house. Father Pozzi came regularly once a month at first, but later he attended twice a month. Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Devitt, George Jeffreys, George Greller and Miss Lott, were the leaders in the work of the establishment of this Mission. Mr. Risley generously donated a site for the church, and in 1903, Rev. John J. McCloskey, of Ocean City, opened a little chapel, which proves a great convenience to these Catholics. When, in January, 1905, Father McCloskey left Ocean City this Mission was supplied by Rev. John A. Caulfield, his successor, till September, 1905. Father McCormick of Milmay is at present in charge. The church was opened on April 26, 1903, and blessed by the pastor, Rev. J. B. McCloskey, and placed under the patronage of St. George. Mass is said on the third Sunday of each month, at 8.30 A. M. (p. 198).

Dorothy, Atlantic County, N. J.
St. Bernard's Church.
The Catholics of this district formerly attended East Vineland. About 1900 it was attached to Ocean City under Father John McCloskey, who, in 1903, built a small chapel for their convenience. The chapel was dedicated and opened for service by Rt. Rev. James McFaul, on June 21, 1903. On this occasion the Rt. Rev. Bishop confirmed twenty-eight children and six adults. Mass is said monthly, and these poor scattered Catholics fully appreciate the privilege they now have, and St. Bernard's will be a centre of religion and do much to preserve the faith in that section. At present (June, 1906), this Mission chapel is attended by the Rev. Theodore McCormick, who resides at Milmay. Father McCloskey having left in January, 1905 (p. 110).

Milmay, N. J.
St. Mary's.
Whilst Father Pozzi was busy attending to his Italian Catholics scattered through South Jersey, yet he did not refuse a helping hand to other races, for in February, 1898, we find him opening a Mission for some Poles and Hungarians, who had settled in and about Milmay. Through the kindness and influence of Mr. Kupetz he was enabled to attend at first monthly, and later twice per month, coming from East Vineland. Mass was said in private houses till 1901, when the Mission was attached to the newly erected parish of Ocean City, then in charge of Rev. J. J. McCloskey, who built a small chapel, which was opened for service June 5, 1902. As these people were very poor it was the kindness of the lumber merchants of Ocean City, who furnished the material, and the generous people of the Sacred Heart Church, Trenton, and St. Philip's Church, Philipsburg, who supplied the needed cash for its erection. Services were held the first Sunday of November. After Father McCloskey came Father John A. Caufield, who in 1905 was the pastor of Ocean City. The present pastor is Rev. John H. Sweeney of Highlands (pp. 197–198).

I'll provide the location once it's been vetted.​

S-M​
 

martink

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Apr 5, 2009
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Hammonton NJ
Somewhere on Tuckahoe Road there's a cute brick church that looks like it was built by Catholics--there's a telltale inset above the door where a statue would have gone. Don't see it with a quick scan of Google Maps. Not sure I could place it other than by driving down.
 

Spung-Man

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Richland, NJ
loki.stockton.edu
Here's the location of the location of the original St. Mary's Church in Milmay:

Here's a post card view from Jerseyman's collection and a 1931 aerial photomosaic view to orient yourself:

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A. Kupetz Store is now a private residence.​
B. Barn (now gone).​
C. St Mary's Church (now gone).​

Here's the location of St. Bernard's Church in Dorothy:


We (my friend from Estell Manor and I) haven't had a chance to verify the St. George's Church location, but have a good candidate.

S-M
 
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Spung-Man

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OK, now I know what happened to St. George's in Risley. According to Tom Ross's research notes provided by Carl Farrell at the Township of Hamilton Historical Society (Mays Landing), the church burned down about 1924. The fire started by Head-of-the-River, then burned all the way to Risley. The property included some grave sites.
 
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