St. Patrick's Catholic Church
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When St. Patrick's Parish was established in 1885, there were about 52 families who made up the congregation. Most of them were of Irish descent, having come west with the railroad, and who settled here with their families in those early days. It was the first Catholic parish in Dickinson.
The first church was located in the eastern part of the town of Dickinson, and it served the Catholics of this community for many years. The “Little White Church on the Hill†was replaced in 1904 with a new brick building that was constructed on Third Avenue West, to be followed soon by a large spacious rectory for the pastor to reside.
The parish continued to grow, and in 1928, St. Patrick's Grade School was built across the street from the church, and the Benedictine Sisters came to staff the school and to remain for 50 years in Catholic education in the Dickinson community.
With the growth of the town, the church of 1904 became too small. In 1950, Monsignor M. Schmitt, pastor for 30 years, directed the construction of the present church-rectory building.
In 1958, a convent building was erected under the direction of Father Charles M. Schneider, pastor. In 1960, the next pastor, Father John E. Garvin, directed the construction of an eight-classroom addition to the school, plus a kitchen and auditorium that is now known as Garvin Hall.
St. Patrick's Parish grew to almost 1,100 families in 1973 when it was necessary to establish a fourth Catholic parish in Dickinson on the northwest side of town. This new parish is now known as Queen of Peace Parish and the majority of its members came from St. Patrick 's Parish.
In 1980, the interior of St. Patrick's Church was renovated in order to comply with present liturgical directives and to allow for some much-needed improvements.
In August of 1979, the parish offices were moved from the rectory to the convent building that became, at that time, the parish center. Part of the building served as a convent for the sisters. The remaining space was utilized for parish administration and activities.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church underwent a major renovation in 2005.