The following is from the Tioga County Historical Society's reprint of the 1897 History of Tioga County Pennsylvania , 1
This church is the successor of St John's Catholic Society, organized in August, 1873, by Bishop O'Hara of Scranton. Within a year it numbered seventy-five members. Monthly services were held in Converse Hall, the officiating priests being Rev John A Wynne and Rev John C McDermott of Blossburg. In 1879 it was made a parish church, there having been a large increase in membership. It was then named St Peter's Roman Catholic Church and the Rev John C McDermott placed in charge as pastor. In 1881 the old Academy building and grounds in the southern part of the borough, were purchased, and the building remodeled, at a cost of $1,200, so as to meet the needs of the congregation. A parsonage was also purchased at a cost of $1,000, and put in proper repair. Through the energy and business ability of Father McDermott, the money to meet these large expenditures was raised and the church and parsonage freed from debt. He also had charge of the mission churches at Tioga and Antrim, and at the latter place erected a church in 1877 costing $3,000.
In November, 1882, was succeeded as pastor at St Peter's church by Rev M E Lynott, during whose pastorate the new Catholic Cemetery, embracing eight acres of ground, in the southern part of the borough, was established, and a church building costing $6,000 erected at Hoytville. This church and grounds were damaged by the flood of June, 1889, necessitating a further expenditure of $600 for repairs. The erection of the present parish residence, opposite the church in Wellsboro, was also begun by Father Lynott, who was succeeded November 12, 1890, by Rev M J Manly, the present pastor. In 1891 he completed the parish residence , which is a handsome two-story frame edifice, commodious, comfortable and well furnished. It cost $4,500. Since Father Manly took charge the church has been remodeled, a bell purchased, as well as statuary and paintings for interior decoration, The grounds have also been graded and carriage sheds built, The outlay for these various improvements has been between $4,000 and $5,000. The church at Antrim has been frescoed and a bell purchased, and the church at Tioga, which was damaged by the June flood of 1889, repaired.
In addition to his duties as pastor of the church in Wellsboro, Father Manly has under his charge the mission churches at Tioga, Antrim and Hoytville, and also Brook, Gaines, Gurnee, Leetonia, Blackwells, Tiadaghton, Hammond, East Charleston, Lamb's Creek, Nauvoo and Stephensville, all within the confines of Tioga county.
In the discharge of his manifold duties Father Manly has endeared himself to the members of the Catholic faith throughout the county. He is able, ardent, enthusiastic and tireless in his efforts to forward the interests of his parish, and has many warm friends outside of his own faith, During his pastorate St Peter's church has prospered. It maintains a Sunday-school with an average attendance of over 100, of which William B Sullivan is superintendent and Miss Bessie Meehan assistant.
Calvary Cemetery is situated in the southern part of the borough limits, and is the burial ground for St Peter's Roman Catholic Church. It contains eight acres, purchased in April, 1883, from Nelson Dunham for $500, and deeded to Right Reverend Bishop O'Hara. It is neatly laid out in burial lots, drives and walks, and contains a number of handsome marble and granite gravestones and monuments. The location is elevated and over looks the borough. This cemetery is well taken care of, and will in time be a really beautiful burial place.
The church of the Sacred Heart - Catholic - was organized in 1883, and in 1884 a house of worship costing $6,000 was erected near the dividing line between Morris and Hoytville, and within the boundaries of the latter village. The building and grounds were damaged by the June flood of 1889, rendering a further expenditure of $600 necessary for repairs. The membership of this church consists of about seventy-five Irish and Polish families. It is a mission church of the Wellsboro parish, and has been served by the priests of St Peter's Church , Wellsboro, services being held on the second Sunday of each month. The Polish members of the church are ministered to by Rev Father Lopanski, of Antrim, who holds services on the third Sunday of each month. There is connected with this church a branch of the Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevolent Association with twenty members.
St John's Catholic Church is the outgrowth of the monthly services held soon after the opening of the mines, by Rev John Wynne and Rev J C McDermott of Blossburg. A church edifice was erected in 1877. Since 1890, during the pastorate of Rev M J Manly, the church has been frescoed, a bell purchased and put in place and other improvements made, the whole involving a layout of $3,000. St John's is one of the mission churches of St Peter;s parish, Wellsboro, and has been served by the pastors of that church. A good Sunday school is maintained, of which Matthew Donlan is superintendent and Miss Sadie Nash assistant. The Polish members of this church are served by Rev Father Lopanski.
St Mary's Catholic Church was organized in 1861, in which year the old village school building was purchased and used as a house of worship. The price paid was $550, and it was dedicated under the pastorship of Rev Father Gogan. Among the original members were the following named persons and their families: John Kinney, John Rouen, Peter Burns, Edward Rogers, Charles Hickey, James Kelly, John Gleason and John O'Neal. In 1880 the old building was sold to E A Smead, who removed it to the rear of his hardware store, and a new church building was erected on the lot at a cost of nearly $3,000. The building was damaged by the flood of June, 1889, but was repaired and greatly improved by the addition of a handsome new altar in 1892. Services are held twice a month by the pastor of St Peter's church, Wellsboro. The Sunday-school is in charge of Miss Jennie Norton.
St Andrew's Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1880, and a church building, 28 by 45 feet, erected at a cost of $1,500. This church is under the charge of the pastor of Blossburg. St James Lyceum Hall, erected in 1895, is under the auspices of this church. It is used for Sunday-school, lectures, etc, and as a meeting place for Catholic societies. This church has a large adult and Sunday-school membership. It is a mission church and is served by the pastors of the church in Blossburg. A branch of the Catholic Total Abstinence and benevolent Association, numbering over sixty members, is connected with St Andrew's.
[Beginning of article is basically a repeat of the 1883 book.]
... Father [John A] Wynne died in Blossburg in March, 1879, and was succeeded by Rev P J Murphy, who served until 1889, when the late pastor, Rev James A Connolly, took charge. He died in July, 1896, and was succeeded by Rev Dr Lucas, the present pastor.
... The membership of the church embraces seventy-two families, with seventy-five children in the Sunday-school.
St Mary's Roman Catholic Church (Polish) was established in 1872, and a church edifice, costing $3,000, erected in 1873. This church, the parochial school and the parish residence connected therewith, is situated in the southern part of the borough, on the hillside, east of the river. The first rector was Rev A Claveter, succeeded by Revs B Gramlewitch, L Spryszynski, T Klonowski, and the present pastor, S Siedlecki. The membership of this church consists of sixty families, with about sixty children in the Sunday-school. The parochial school, the teacher of which is L Olszewski, was established in 1876. There is an average attendance of eighty pupils. A new two-story frame school building, costing $2,000, has recently been erected. Adjoining the church on the south is the parish residence. Within the past three years over $6,000 has been expended in repairs to the church and the parish residence, and in the erection of the new parochial school. Father Siedlecki has charge, also, of St Joseph's church, Morris Run. The Polish Catholics of Arnot attend the church in Blossburg.
St Mary's Roman Catholic Church was organized December 31, 1882, when the following officers were elected: Rev P J Murphy, chairman; P F O'Donnell, treasurer; Thomas V Keefe, secretary, and Daniel Fogarty, Philip Haily, David Hays, P F O'Donnell, Thomas V Keefe, and Rev P J Murphy, building committee. A neat building, coasting $1,500 -- the Morris Run Coal Company contributing the lumber -- was erected, and was opened for service on Christmas, 1883. This church is served by the pastor of St Andrew's Roman Catholic church, Blossburg, in which charge it has been since its organization. There is connected with this church a branch of the Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevolent Association, with a large membership.
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (Polish) was organized in 1892. Its membership consists of about 150 families, with seventy children in the Sunday-school. The church building , a commodious frame edifice, cost $4,000. This church is under the charge of the pastor of the Polish Catholic church in Blossburg.