Saint Michael's Catholic Church History

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One hundred twenty-five years ago on Trinity Sunday, May 26, 1872 St. Michael's Catholic Church was dedicated at South 6th and Broad Streets by Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock. In 1909 property was purchased at 13th and Cherry Streets for the construction of a new church. It was dedicated May 4, 1913 by Bishop John B. Morris. Our present church at 11th and Pointer Trail was dedicated on March 20, 1983. With many struggles and set-backs, we are here today as a strong, vibrant, growing Catholic community.

The Parish can trace its roots back to 1845 when Colonel John Drennen gave six acres of land for "an institution of the sisters" 'located at the corner of Broad and South Sixth Streets. The two-story brick building located at 605 through 607 Main Street was purchased by Michael Lynch in 1851. (This building was later the George Miller Confectionery Store.) His family lived in the rear and upstairs of the building. One room upstairs was converted to a chapel. When a priest came to Van Buren, mass was held in the chapel. This chapel was used until 1861 when Michael Lynch moved his family to Cane Hill and Clay Streets.

A number of Catholic families lived in or near Van Buren prior to 1861. The majority of them moved to Fort Smith probably because a Catholic Church was available to them. However, mass was held in the homes of some of the members when a priest visited Van Buren.

No effort was made to build a church during the Civil War and no records have been located to tell of the commencement of the building, but it was approximately December 1871. Enough funds were secured to frame the new church through the efforts of Michael Lynch and Pat May. It was recorded that Mr. Lynch gave about three quarters of the money necessary for

the completion of the church. The church was named after St. Michael the Archangel who was the patron saint of Michael Lynch.

The first church was dedicated on Trinity Sunday, May 26, 1872, with Bishop Edward Fitzgerald giving the homily. The priests and many Catholics from the congregation of Fort Smith were present for the occasion. A collection was taken up to help with the construction debt. The choir of the Immaculate Conception Church of Fort Smith provided the music. After its consecration, the first mass was July 7, 1872, by Reverend Michael Smyth. Reverend J. P. Murrell was the first resident priest from 1880 to 1890. The next resident priest was the Reverend Patrick Enright who came to Van Buren in 1892 shortly after he was ordained a priest. He remained here until 1897, dividing his time between Van Buren and Fayetteville.

St. Philomena's Academy was operated by the Sisters of Mercy on Broadway and Oueen Streets in the fall of 1897 to 1901. The school had more than 80 students of all faiths in 1898. It occupied the John Ogden mansion, later known as the Miss Zula Ribling home. In 1901, the Academy was forced to close due to a drastic decrease in enrollment because of crop failure (especially strawberries) and the removal of the MoPac railroad shops from Van Buren to Little Rock. There is evidence of interest in a parochial school at later dates. In 1907 correspondence with Bishop Morris concerns possible construction of a hall for church and school. Further letters dated 1908 between Bishop Morris and Mother Agatha O.S.B. of Shoal Creek indicate that a school may have indeed been in operation at that time.

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