Old St. Raymond's Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Raymond Church
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Old St. Raymond Church
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 Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6600 Donlon Way, Dublin, California |
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| Built | 1859 |
| Architect | Donlon, Tom; Fallon, Jeremiah |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000242 |
| Added to NRHP | April 12, 2006 |
Old St. Raymond Church is a very old and important church building in Dublin, California. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 12, 2006. This means it's recognized as a special historical site in the United States.
This church is the oldest existing Catholic church in both Alameda and Contra Costa counties. It was built in 1859 and opened in 1860. The land for the church was given by Michael Murray and Jeremiah Fallon. This land also held the historic Old Murray Schoolhouse and the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery. Jeremiah Fallon even gave $30 to help build the church, which was a lot of money back then!
Contents
Building the Church
The church has a simple but beautiful design. It uses a style called Gothic Revival. The outside is made of white clapboard, which looks like a classic New England building. Inside, you can see old wooden benches and wide redwood floors.
The Murray and Fallon families, who were Irish immigrants, built the church. They came from a place called Elphin in County Roscommon, Ireland. These families left Ireland before the terrible Great Famine. They first lived in New York City before traveling west in wagon trains. Interestingly, they were part of the famous Donner Party for a while. But luckily, both families left the Donner Party at Fort Bridger in Wyoming, avoiding the hardships that group faced.
Wood and Workers
The wood for the church came from the nearby Oakland hills. Strong oxen pulled the heavy logs all the way to Dublin. There, the wood was cut into planks. During the church's construction, a pioneer named Tom Donlon had a tragic accident. He fell and died on September 6, 1859. He was the very first person to be officially buried in the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery, which is right next to the church.
Life of the Church
When it was first built, St. Raymond's was a "mission church." This meant the local people couldn't afford a full-time priest. So, a priest from Oakland would ride a mule once a month to offer Mass at St. Raymond's.
Over the years, the church was overseen by different larger churches. First, it was part of St. Leander's Church in San Leandro. Then it moved to St. Michael's in Livermore. Finally, in 1961, it came under St. Augustine's in Pleasanton.
Special Moments and Changes
The first wedding held at Old St. Raymond's was in 1865. It was for Ellen Fallon, Jeremiah's daughter, and William Tehan. The church's belfry (where the bell hangs) was added in 1880.
In 1966, a new, much larger St. Raymond's Church was built. The old church was then given to the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society (ALVHS). They wanted to save and restore the historic building. The ALVHS used the building for many things. Then, in 1993, they sold the church to the City of Dublin. The city also bought the Old Murray Schoolhouse and the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery. Together, these three sites became the Dublin Heritage Center. Today, the City of Dublin rents out the old church for community events and private uses.
Restoration and Appearance
The first time Old St. Raymond's Church was renovated was in 1922. The most recent restoration happened soon after the city took ownership. Even with these updates, the church still looks much the same as it did when it was built in 1859. Thanks to private donations, a new bell tower was built. The church's restoration was completed in 1967.
See also
- Dublin Pioneer Cemetery – This historic cemetery is located right behind the church. The first person buried there was a worker who died while helping to build the church.
