Greybull, Sacred Heart 1941

Greybull, Sacred Heart
Bishop McGovern

[95] Sacred Heart parish, Greybull, is young as a parish center. In 1915 the Catholic church had made but little progress in Big Horn county. The one Catholic church was located at Basin, where it had been erected in 1910 through the efforts of Rev. N.J. Endres, who was in charge of the territory at the time.

Greybull was the next community in Big Horn county to make plans for the erection of a church. In 1915 it was a very small town which owed its existence to the fact that it was a railroad division point. Until 1918 there were few Catholic families and their spiritual needs were cared for by Fr. Endres, who visited Greybull about once a month on week days and celebrated Mass in private homes.

The discovery of oil in 1918 changed the little town of Greybull into a thriving, active business center. The building of a refinery brought in many workers and the increased population included a number of Catholics.

The increase in church membership added further impetus to the demand for a house of worship and in 1919 plans were drawn for its erection.

One lot was purchased from the Lincoln Land Co., which donated a second lot. In October the contract [96] for building the church was let at a cost of $1,600.00. The Catholic Church Extension Society donated $800.00 and the remainder of the sum was raised by the parishioners and their friends. The Extension Society was granted the privilege of naming the church. It was called the church of the Sacred Heart. The building was finished and the first Mass offered in it December 26, 1919.

Neither the church building nor the location was attractive. The building was poorly constructed, as is usual during boom days, and the value of property was so inflated that it was impossible to secure a suitable location at a reasonable price. However, the church building was considered as temporary and it was planned to erect a better one later on, providing the growth of the town made it advisable.

Unfortunately that was not destined to be soon. The production of oil ceased in a couple of years and during 1921-22 the population of Greybull dwindled steadily, and the little town slipped quietly back into its cocoon.

From the date of its erection until 1926 Mass was said once a month in the Sacred Heart church, with Fr. Endres in charge.

Prior to the year 1918 there was little need for a Catholic church in Lovell, as that was a solid Mormon community. In 1918 a sugar factory was built there [97] and among the workers brought in was a number of Catholics. Fr. Endres visited the place several times a year and said Mass wherever he could. In 1919 the number of Catholics increased and work was started at the end of the year on a substantial brick church building. The Extension Society donated the sum of $1,000.00 toward the building and was granted the privilege of naming the church St. Joseph’s. The building of the church was begun during Fr. Endres’ regime. He had charge of all the territory within the Big Horn basin until the beginning of 1920, when the territory was divided. A new parish was formed at Powell, and Lovell was added to it as a mission. Basin and Greybull remained under Fr. Endres’ jurisdiction. Rev. Bernard Schneiders was appointed pastor at Powell and he had the church at Lovell completed. The congregation at Lovell had Mass once a month. In 1922 Fr. Schneiders was transferred, and was succeeded by Rev. John Spillane, who observed the same schedule at Lovell. Some debt still remained on the church when Fr. Spillane took charge, but it was paid off within a couple of years.

October 1, 1926, a new parish was formed with headquarters at Greybull. Rev. John Marley was appointed the first pastor. The newly organized parish included all of Big Horn county with Lovell and Basin as missions. Since the establishment of the [98] parish services have been held at Basin and Greybull on three Sundays of the month and at Lovell on the fourth Sunday.

In March, 1928, arrangements were completed for the purchase of a pastor’s residence in Greybull. He had been living in a three-room apartment prior to this. The residence was to cost $3,750.00 and the purchase of furniture would raise the total to an approximate $5,000.00. A benefactor donated $1,000.00 toward the purchase of the rectory and $2,500.00 was borrowed from The Diocese of Cheyenne. From the date of the establishment of the parish until October, 1928, the Extension Society gave a subsidy of $30.00 a month to the parish.

From 1929 to 1933 Greybull and missions were attended by the pastor of Thermopolis with Mass once a month.

In 1933 Rev. Martin Kennedy was appointed resident pastor at Greybull with Basin and Lovell as missions. He served until his death on Good Friday, 1936 (April 10th). Mass was said in the missions every other Sunday. Rev. Leo B. Morgan, the present pastor, succeeded Fr. Kennedy. In 1937 an assistant, Rev. Paul Foster, was appointed. The parishioners were able to enjoy the privilege of Mass every Sunday and the increased attendance was very noticeable.

[99] A class of twenty-eight was confirmed May 11, 1938, in the church of the Sacred Heart, Greybull. In the church of St. Philip, Basin, a class of thirty-one was confirmed May 12, 1938, and in the church of St. Joseph, Lovell, thirty-five were confirmed May 12, 1938. There were forty-two baptisms and ten marriages in 1938. One mission has been given since the inauguration of the parish.

The much desired new church came in 1940. A different and more suitable location was purchased, and on this site a very attractive brick structure, with a seating capacity of 200, has been erected at a cost of $18,000.00, with a debt of only $8,000.00. A generous donation of $2,000.00 was received through the Catholic Church Extension Society, and another substantial gift through the ordinary of the diocese. Both pastor and parishioners have reason to be proud of their new house of worship, which, though in use at present, will not be formally dedicated until May 28th (1941). The old church has been remodeled to serve as a parish hall.

Back to INDEX		Greybull, Sacred Heart Bishop McGovern [95] Sacred Heart parish, Greybull, is young as a parish center. In 1915 the Catholic church had made but little progress in Big Horn county. The one Catholic church was located at Basin, where it had been erected in 1910 through the efforts of Rev. N.J. Endres, who was in charge of the territory at the time. Greybull was the next community in Big Horn county to make plans for the erection of a church. In 1915 it was a very small town which owed its existence to the fact that it was a railroad division point. Until 1918 there were few Catholic families and their spiritual needs were cared for by Fr. Endres, who visited Greybull about once a month on week days and celebrated Mass in private homes. The discovery of oil in 1918 changed the little town of Greybull into a thriving, active business center. The building of a refinery brought in many workers and the increased population included a number of Catholics. The increase in church membership added further impetus to the demand for a house of worship and in 1919 plans were drawn for its erection. One lot was purchased from the Lincoln Land Co., which donated a second lot. In October the contract [96] for building the church was let at a cost of $1,600.00. The Catholic Church Extension Society donated $800.00 and the remainder of the sum was raised by the parishioners and their friends. The Extension Society was granted the privilege of naming the church. It was called the church of the Sacred Heart. The building was finished and the first Mass offered in it December 26, 1919. Neither the church building nor the location was attractive. The building was poorly constructed, as is usual during boom days, and the value of property was so inflated that it was impossible to secure a suitable location at a reasonable price. However, the church building was considered as temporary and it was planned to erect a better one later on, providing the growth of the town made it advisable. Unfortunately that was not destined to be soon. The production of oil ceased in a couple of years and during 1921-22 the population of Greybull dwindled steadily, and the little town slipped quietly back into its cocoon. From the date of its erection until 1926 Mass was said once a month in the Sacred Heart church, with Fr. Endres in charge. Prior to the year 1918 there was little need for a Catholic church in Lovell, as that was a solid Mormon community. In 1918 a sugar factory was built there [97] and among the workers brought in was a number of Catholics. Fr. Endres visited the place several times a year and said Mass wherever he could. In 1919 the number of Catholics increased and work was started at the end of the year on a substantial brick church building. The Extension Society donated the sum of $1,000.00 toward the building and was granted the privilege of naming the church St. Joseph’s. The building of the church was begun during Fr. Endres’ regime. He had charge of all the territory within the Big Horn basin until the beginning of 1920, when the territory was divided. A new parish was formed at Powell, and Lovell was added to it as a mission. Basin and Greybull remained under Fr. Endres’ jurisdiction. Rev. Bernard Schneiders was appointed pastor at Powell and he had the church at Lovell completed. The congregation at Lovell had Mass once a month. In 1922 Fr. Schneiders was transferred, and was succeeded by Rev. John Spillane, who observed the same schedule at Lovell. Some debt still remained on the church when Fr. Spillane took charge, but it was paid off within a couple of years. October 1, 1926, a new parish was formed with headquarters at Greybull. Rev. John Marley was appointed the first pastor. The newly organized parish included all of Big Horn county with Lovell and Basin as missions. Since the establishment of the [98] parish services have been held at Basin and Greybull on three Sundays of the month and at Lovell on the fourth Sunday. In March, 1928, arrangements were completed for the purchase of a pastor’s residence in Greybull. He had been living in a three-room apartment prior to this. The residence was to cost $3,750.00 and the purchase of furniture would raise the total to an approximate $5,000.00. A benefactor donated $1,000.00 toward the purchase of the rectory and $2,500.00 was borrowed from The Diocese of Cheyenne. From the date of the establishment of the parish until October, 1928, the Extension Society gave a subsidy of $30.00 a month to the parish. From 1929 to 1933 Greybull and missions were attended by the pastor of Thermopolis with Mass once a month. In 1933 Rev. Martin Kennedy was appointed resident pastor at Greybull with Basin and Lovell as missions. He served until his death on Good Friday, 1936 (April 10th). Mass was said in the missions every other Sunday. Rev. Leo B. Morgan, the present pastor, succeeded Fr. Kennedy. In 1937 an assistant, Rev. Paul Foster, was appointed. The parishioners were able to enjoy the privilege of Mass every Sunday and the increased attendance was very noticeable. [99] A class of twenty-eight was confirmed May 11, 1938, in the church of the Sacred Heart, Greybull. In the church of St. Philip, Basin, a class of thirty-one was confirmed May 12, 1938, and in the church of St. Joseph, Lovell, thirty-five were confirmed May 12, 1938. There were forty-two baptisms and ten marriages in 1938. One mission has been given since the inauguration of the parish. The much desired new church came in 1940. A different and more suitable location was purchased, and on this site a very attractive brick structure, with a seating capacity of 200, has been erected at a cost of $18,000.00, with a debt of only $8,000.00. A generous donation of $2,000.00 was received through the Catholic Church Extension Society, and another substantial gift through the ordinary of the diocese. Both pastor and parishioners have reason to be proud of their new house of worship, which, though in use at present, will not be formally dedicated until May 28th (1941). The old church has been remodeled to serve as a parish hall. Back to Top