INDIAN RIVER

N T1115 l.;\Tl£ 17005 a number oFScottish,

Acadian and Aboriginal Families lived in

this general area. The First church was built in 1814 and Followed by a second one, a very beautiFul church, in 1843. From that time onwards a priest lived there until 1976 when Kensington became the place oF

residence.

Fire From lightning completely destroyed the parish church in 1896. Its replacement is the present—day magniFicent St. Mary's Church, opened in 1902, an architectural gem For the whole Island. This is one oF the ”Harris churches” and a great landmark For miles around.

The First parochial house, built in 1842, was replaced by a new one in 1886 which lasted until destroyed by Fire in the 19705.

66 OUR PARISHES

(St. Mary’s)

As early as 1906 the people in Kensington had Sunday Mass in the C.M.B.A. hall and later in the Temperance hall there. In 1937 the people erected the present Holy Family Church in Kensington and in 1976 a new rectory was built next door. Nowadays except For summer months all liturgical activity takes place at Holy Family Church which two years ago received a major interior

renovation.

In the 1980s a massive Fund raising project gave the Indian River church a much needed upliFt. A short time later the parish made an agreement with the Indian River Festival people to permit the use oF the church For top quality musicals and other cultural events. Since then these great summer Festivals have made the St. Mary's

Church there a Favorite gathering place For t g,

music lovers From Far and near.

Today 250 Families live in the parish, most oF them centred around the busy and

growing [OW'I] OF KCITSIIIgEOI‘I.

Ho/y Fami/y Church