Historical Notes on the Church of St. Anne
About the time of the War Between the States, churchmen from the East and families arriving from Canada, Scotland and England met in their homes to read Mattins and Evensong from the 1789 Prayerbook. The Parochial Register of the Church in Sterling, Illinois records their priest, the Reverend Father Oscar Thayer, coming to Morrison in 1865 to solemnize the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. In 1869, Father Goodhue came in February and June to baptize fourteen persons. He also buried Mr. John Burr on July 26, 1870 at Grove (Rose) Hill Cemetery.
The Reverend Father J. E. Goodhue set up a place to worship in the hall above the First National Bank on the southwest corner of Main and Cherry Streets in the same year he came to baptize fourteen, which was 1869. In 1877, the mission work in Fulton, Illinois known as “Grace Church,” collapsed and the property sold for $600. Bishop McLaren, Bishop of Chicago, visited Whiteside County that year and assigned the proceeds of that sale to aid in the building of a Church in Morrison. In 1878, Bishop McLaren again visited the congregation in Morrison, on November 19th, to baptize three persons. Later in 1891, Bishop McLaren described that visit as “a few dry bones,” indicative of previous activities in the shape of a small Altar, Cross and Lecturn of wood painted white. (sic)
Services continued to be held by the laity and mass said when Fr. Goodhue visited. In 1880, he baptized four more persons. That year, Bishop McLaren listed St. Anne’s as an unorganized mission at the Diocesan Convention. Later, Fr. A. A. Joss continued to guide the mission congregation in the rented hall. In 1883, the corner lot at Knox and Cherry streets was acquired for $120. On October 11, 1883, the present wood frame structure was begun and a large portion paid for by Mrs. Susan Murrey. The structure was completed by Thanksgiving, but not officially opened until the Bishop could dedicate it, which was not until March of 1884.
At the Diocesan Convention in 1884, Bishop McLaren’s address included these words: “After a hard struggle, the Church of St. Anne at Morrison has finally managed to erect a fine church building which will be opened for Solemn Worship on Mid-Lent Sunday (Lent IV, Rose Sunday).” That year Rose Sunday was March 16th. Later the Bishop continued: “I visited the mission Church of St. Anne in Morrison. In the morning I celebrated the Holy Communion, christened two children and preached. At night I preached again.”
After the debt of the building, $1,800 was retired, Bishop McLaren returned on November 22, 1888, to consecrate the building and administer the Sacrament of Holy Confirmation. The Reverend Father Brittain was the first resident priest and vicar of Morrison. In 1891, Bishop McLaren again returned to confirm five and celebrate the Mass. By 1904, the present stone Undercroft was added and the parish register recorded sixteen families and twenty-seven communicants in good standing.
In the first decade of this century, the mission was served by a long live of priests and seminarians who stayed less than a year at a time. In the next two decades, the incumbent-vicars tended to stay for three years or less. In this period, three priests were well beloved and of note. From 1933 to 1936, Father Church, a faithful priest, served as vicar and died here in Morrison. He was followed by Father Edwin B. Thayer, 1936-1938, who in 1960 became the Right Reverend, the Bishop of Colorado. In 1939, Fr. Ernest W. Scully followed Bishop Thayer, and during his vicarate, the house at 306 North Cherry Street was purchased for $3,500 by our endowment fund. It served as the Vicarage until 1984, when it was sold and the home adjacent to the Church at 405 North Cherry Street was purchased for the Rectory.
Often until 1954, and especially in the 40’s with a shortage of priests, the Church was served by the rector of the parish in Sterling. Fr. Kenneth Morford was one of the much loved priests-in-charge during this period. In December of 1954, the Reverend Father M. M. Lucas came to St. Anne's as vicar. He was followed by the Reverend Father Donald P. Moon (1965-1968), James L. Steele (1968-1971), John R. Rieshus (1971-1975), D. Robert Seay (1976-1978), and John Heschle, who was called as vicar in 1978 and served in this capacity until 1986, when the Church of St. Anne achieved parish status. Fr. Heschle continued to serve as rector from 1986 until his departure in 1993. John Lancaster served as rector from 1993 to 1995. Our current rector, Gary E. A. Lawler, has faithfully served since 1997.
In 1979, a new barrier-free entrance was constructed on the North side, and the grounds re-landscaped. In 1980, the Women’s Guild paid for a new kitchen, and in 1981, the Church was structurally rebuilt and a much needed restoration completed with the help of V.I.M. funds. The Howell Pipe Organ, installed in 1958, was refurbished in 1982. In 1983-84, a new Rectory was purchased and restored. The addition of this land increased the Cherry Street frontage from 75 feet to 180 feet. On the 12th of January, 1986, the mission congregation voted to organize as a Parish Church in the Diocese of Chicago and a religious corporation in the State of Illinois.
With this background, it is our primary mission to spread the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Catholic Faith as our Church has received from Scriptures, the Sacraments, and the Creeds of Christ’s One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. It is our goal that in seeking this Faith as a parish family we will be a mission of God’s love to those around us. “May the God who gave us this calling, give us the grace to see it realized. From small beginnings we hope great things may be accomplished and pray it may please God to strengthen the hands of those who work, that the foundations here laid may be built upon and that adequate provision be made for the development of the Church in Morrison.” –quoted from the parish register of 1883.
