Edward J. Buckley
Rev. Michael Brennan
14
THE FIRST PASTOR
On Allguc;t 28th, 1829 tlw Rev, Michael Brennan 08S ordained by Bishop Macdonell to take charge of the mission at the "Bay of Quinty", and so the founding date for what became St. Michael's was the date of ordination for Michael Brennan. Father Brennan is believed to have been born in Mooncoyne, Kilkenny, Ireland in 1796. Information on his early life is non existent, but the fact thathe was thirty-three years of age when ordained indicates some earlier career prior to entering Macdonell's seminary. However, from the date of his ordination on he was a most visible and effective personality around the Bay of Quinte. On September 15th he was given a letter to take to the pastor at Montreal which read as follows: St. Raphaels 15th Sept. 1829 "Rev and Dear Sir:The Rev. Timothy O'Meara arrived here this morning and informed me that you have succeeded my worthy and excellent friend Mr. LaSaulnier in the charge of the parish of Montreal, and I trust you will also succeed to his zeal and charity for the propagation of the Catholic Religion in Upper Canada. The bearer the Rev. Mr. Brennan is appointed to the mission of the Bay of Kenty. I have been doing every thing in my power for several years past to afford him and others not only education and board but also clothing and every other necessity and by the great exertions, I have made already to support my ecclesiastics and finish their education, I find myself so completely run aground that I am not able to fit them out for the missions as they require and I would wish. I have therefore given the bearer permission to visit Montreal in hopes that the zeal of pious Catholics of that city especially of the Seminary and nunneries, would lend him some aid to procure him some vestments and other articles equally necessary. I beg that you would have the goodness to give him all the aid and assistance in your power by introducing him to all the nunneries and wherever you think he might receive anything to make up his chapel. What is most indispensable is a chalice. I would not have used so much liberty with you were I not well aware of your solicitude for the propagation of the Catholic Religion in the Province and as Divine Providence has been pleased to deprive me of the powerful assistance of my excellent friend the Superior and Mr. LaSaulnier, you are the next to whom I think have a right to look for aid. I remain with best wishes to all your gentlemen Rev. and Dear Sir Your very humble servant + Alex Mcdonell Ep.R" '
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setting out for Belleville. The one was a certificate of ordination which, translated from the Latin, read as follows: We, Alexander Macdonell, by the grace of God and the favor of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Kingston To all and singular to whom these present letters may come, we make note that in the year of Our Lord, 1829, on the 28th day of August, in the church of St. Raphael's we have ordained our beloved son in Christ. MICHAEL BRENNAN
a graduate deacon of our seminary, after having been examined and approved, and having fulfilled all spiritual exercises according to the sacred council of Trent, and according to the latest apostolic decrees, Speculatares Domus Israel and Apostolici Administerii, and also in accord with the highest ecclesiastical regulations constituted by the Roman Pontiffs, Innocent XII, Innocent XIII and Benedict XIII of happy memory, and after examination according to the rite and canons We have decided to promote, and do promote to the order of holy priesthood, under title of service to the Church of Upper Canada. In which case we have caused these letters to have been drawn up under our hand and seal and countersigned by our secretary. Given at St. Raphael's this Fourth day of October 1829. + Alex. Macdonell By command of the most illustrious and most reverend Alexander Macdonell, Bishop of Kingston John Cassid y - Secretary The second document was an outline of the faculties granted to him for the administration of his priestly office. "We, Alex Macdonell, by the Grace of God and the favour of the Holy See, Bishop of Regiopolis, bestow on Revd. Michael Brennan health and Benediction. "Beloved Son: Owing to our great esteem for your piety, prudence and learning, we have entrusted to you in the Lord the care of the Mission of 'The Bay of Quinty' as it is called and comprising Belleville, Hallowell (now Picton), Marmora and their surrounding territories with other centres of our Diocese which have no Pastor. We hereby grant you the faculties of performing the customary spiritual functions in these centres until they are recalled. These faculties are: 1) The power to absolve a penitent straying from the faith through the sin of heresy schism or apostasy. 2) Dispensation to matrimonial impediments involving the third and fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity.
St, Michael's Parish 1829-1993
mond had built a house upon it for the accommodation of the pastor. Secondly, that a park Lot was granted in the Town of Perth for the use of the Catholic missionary, but was given away to others. Thirdly, that four Lots were granted in the Town of Peterboro to assist the Catholics to build a Church there, and the Letters, R, C. Roman Catholic written on the plan of the Town, yet a patent Deed was issued for those Lots to a person who has since left the province, and removed to the United States. Fourthly, that a Lot of one hundred acres in the Township of Tyendanague ÂŤSICÂť was petitioned for by the Catholics of that Township, a petition laid before His Excellency Major General Sir John Colborne in Council, and a favourable answer given by the Hon. Peter Robinson to Mr. John Sweeny who presented the petition, one of the Church Wardens for the Catholic Congregation of that place, and he (Mr. Robinson) assured Mr. Sweeny that the prayer of the petitioned would be granted. That the Catholics confiding in this favourable promise of Mr. Robinson have gone to the expense of getting the materials for building the Church on the site and, although nine or ten months have elapsed since that promise was given there is no appearance yet of the Deed being issued, -and the Catholics seeing the obstacles so generally opposed to the issuing of patent Deeds for Lands promised to their Church, are discouraged from proceeding in the building of the Church till the Lands are secured to them. You Petitioners therefore pray that your Excellency would be graciously pleased to order a patent Deed to be issued for the five acres above stated, and also for the Lot in the Township of Tyandanague. Your, Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. Alex. Macdonell Bishop of Regiopolis" It was this petition which finally started some movement on the issue. Special reports from Samuel Wilmott, Surveyor General, and A. McDonnell of Peterboro who auctioned off the land in question, were forwarded to Robert B. Sullivan in an attempt to outline the whole complicated problem. A. McDonell reported to Robinson that just prior to the 15th of June, 1836 he had received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands and from Deputy Surveyor Wilmott a list of lots in the town plot which had been recently surveyed at the mouth of the Trent. These were to be offered for sale as advertised. On the day of the sale the Catholics of the r0,':;rr~C1tif)n inforrr"Arl J..,;", tbar spvprC110fHlP Jots that he was about to offer for sale formed a portion of the five acres of land which had been reserved for their church by an order in council. The auctioneer refused to sell those upon which the church stood or on which graves were found, but did sell the others. As the sale came to an end Father
23
Brennan arrived and informed the agent that he had sold lands claimed by the parish. Thereupon the purchasers, were immediately informed that their ownership would have to be confirmed. Wilmott's report, while quite factual, did become defensive since it was he who, had provided the list of lots to be sold to the agent. Wilmott claimed that the town site had not been secured by the government for it had granted away all the central land on both banks of the river. He reprimanded the clergy for seizing the best and central part of the site, and pointed out that if the church of England, and the Catholics received five acres each side by side, and the Kirk of Scotland was equally awarded since they had now asked and were equally entitled, there would be little space left for houses. Wilmott's defence seems weak and bumbling and certainly not in keeping with his usual business-like efficiency. McDonell's report was dated August 4, 1836 and Wilmott's August 8, 1836 and on August 18, 1836 the council minutes record: "The council conceives that it is now too late to enter into the question of expediency or inexpediency of the appropriation for the respective churches. They consider the faith of the Government as pledged for the five acres originally ordered. It seems, however, that it will be more beneficial to the petitioners if the present survey be adhered to as far as the streets are concerned and it is therefore respectfully recommended that the two blocks of ground, being lots numbered 1,2,3 and 4 on Dundas Street and the twelve lots in the rear, be granted as prayed for and that the commissioner of Crown Lands be directed to return the first instalments paid by purchasers on any of these lots which have been sold and the council further respectfully recommends that if the petitioners desire it, the street between the two blocks of ground comprised in this present order be also granted to them, the whole to be in trust for the purpose prayed for." Hence some six years after the first request, River Trent had deeds to its church site which it still enjoys. Father Brennan, served as pastor for Trenton from 1829 until the appointment of Trenton's first resident pastor, Rev. F.P. McEvoy, in 1847. Brennan did not allow the problems of Tyendinaga or river Trent to overshadow those of other locations. Macdonell's commission to him specifically mentioned Marmora, and for good reason. This community had grown up around the iron deposits found there and because the early settlers had need for so many items made of iron, the SOl1TCP of the Taw material was an important spot. Patents for land holdings relevant to mine surveys were issued in 1824 and it is believed that smelting operations were underway shortly thereafter. In 1825 an Irishman by the name of Anthony Monahan was appointed manager of the mining operations. About the same time several Irish
Rev. Michael
24
immigrants settled in Jhe area and need for a house of worship was established. A site was chosen by Mr. Monahan and Lduglllin dugilt:~~,whicn was uonateu by 1 ionaiiau as manager of the mine, but as no deeds were issued, disputes over possession of the land arose in later years. Monohan was certainly a prime mover in the undertaking and advertisements appeared in area papers soliciting assistance [or the project, similar to the one which ran in Ihe Kingston Chronicle on May 30, 1829. Roman Catholic Chapel at The Marmora Iron Works The su bscriber is now building a Roman Ca tholic Chapel at these works, to complete which a considerable sum is yet wanting. He therefore respectfully addresses himself to the inhabitants of Kingston, begging their contributions in aid of this laudable undertaking. Subscriptions will be gratefully received by Messers Waiter McCunliffe, Wm. Driscoll. Mich. Brennan, Mich. Moran and James Lynch. A. Monahan Lore has it that all dominations assisted in the construction of the church. The original building was of stone and approximately 43 by 25 feet on the outside with the entrance on the north side and above the entrance in the gable was a round window. The east wall was 20 feet high and had three gothic windows each six feet wide. The glass was plain with four panes in the lower section and three fan shaped panes in the top section. The south wall had a panel in its centre on the outside, inset about three inches and
A picture of the ruins of the first Catholic Church at Ivunrnora.
Brennan
conforming to the lines of main windows. Above this panel and reaching almost to the gable, was a long narrow window sunirar 111~lyle to the orners. On each side of this central window were two others close to the roof and resembling the top part of the side window. The sills of all three windows were in alignment. The west wall was identical to the east one. There was a stone chimney on the extreme south west corner and the roof had a low pitch almost Spanish in atmosphere. Over the peak at the front entrance there was an iron cross set in the stone work with another one on the rear peak. The interior was plain. The stone walls were covered with a putty coat of white plaster, the ceiling was lathed and plastered along the roof line except at the peak where it was rounded off, the floor was of wide tongue and groove pine plank about three inches thick with a narrow base-board joining the walls and floor. The altar stood at the south wall under the three windows already described. It was about five feet long and sat on top of the usual three steps. The altar was enclosed with a plain communion rail extending from wall to wall. The seats were described as simple in construction and made of pine. On the left side the pews extended from the front to the north wall, while on the right side a space was left at the north wall possibly for a stove. The iron works supplied the crosses from the foundry and probably the money for the wood-work and furnishings. The entire cost was supposed to have been about ÂŁ200. The burial ground was opposite the church. This modest little building was probably the second ever built for Catholic worship in the vast territory Brennan had inherited to be known as St. Michael's. To it Brennan went shortly after landing at Belleville and he served it as part of his parish until Marmora became a partner, in that combination comprising Marrnora, Madoc, Tweed and Stoco to be served by Rev. Dionysius Begley after 1851.
St.'Michael's Parish 1829-1993
Irish immigrants moved steadily into the mid-Hastings County area during the 1820's and 30's with pockets of population developing around,Marmora, Madoc, Tweed and Stoco. For some thirty years Father Brennan made regular rounds to these communities to say Mass, baptize and marry the members of his far-flung congregation. At Madoc he is reported to have had built a small frame church sometime around 1832and had a cemetery laid out. The largest group of people seemed to collect around what became known as Sugar Island which developed into the Stoco parish. This interesting location is a spot of land surrounded by the Moira River. In the spring of the year, at this site, the Mississauga Indians would congregate and make maple sugar which they in turn took down river to trade with the settlers of Meyers Creek, as Belleville was then called. The early Irish settlement of the 1820's was soon enlarged by a group of settlers from around Sorel, Quebec who took up land around present-day Tweed. These two waves of immigration developed a rather large Catholic community in the Sugar Island area. The first Masses there were said by Father Brennan at the home of Owen Durkin, the same man who donated three acres of land for a cemetery and church site. The population of the area grew steadily and Father Brennan' s responsibility to the parishioners of the entire mid-Hastings area came to an end in 1851 when Father Begley was given charge of the territory. The parish records at St. Michael's include the ba ptisms and marriages and some of the funerals attended to by Fr. Brennan as he made his rounds. It is of note that he never indicated the location and the reader at first is unable to identify the various locations of his mission. However, an alertness to local family names frequently enables the reader to identify the date of some of his parish visits. His early visits after 1829 to the outlying communities were marked by numerous marriages all performed within a few days of one another and in some cases all on a single day. Baptisms covering a whole family of children ranging from teenagers to the new born indicated the absence of clergy for long periods. One can imagine the joy experienced by the devout upon Fr. Brennan's initial arrival and how eagerly he was looked for on subsequent occasions. He was not only their priest, but friend and advisor. Most of the early settlers were illiterate and like Macdonell at Glengarry, Brennan found that many of them had not acquired clear title to their land even though they thought that they had. He personally undertook to resolve these matters when they came to his attention. Brennan readily identified with the settlers. He was personally a tall, bony individual of quite homely features. His physical strength was that of a lumberjack with whom he could easily relate. He carried a black thorn cane of sturdy dimensions which gave him the nickname of Blackthorn Brennan. His presence in the town streets was common and he was noted for his ability to force the peace when local inebriates or others resorted to fisticuffs. Many
25
a saloon he cleared when trouble demanded. His friends and he played shinny (an early form of hockey) and he was regarded as a rough and rugged player in a tough and rugged game. While he spent much time tending his far flung flock he never seemed to neglect the requirements at Belleville itself. Where he lived after his arrival in October, 1829until March, 1836 is not clear, but on March 17, 1836 he purchased a house and lot from Ruben Fields for fifty pounds. This house was located on the south end of the present parking lot at St. Michael's on the west side of Church Street and known as lot number thirty-three. The house was a small one-and-a-half storey frame which stood on the site until the late 1930's when it was removed to make a parking lot. The last tenant in the house was thejack Chapelle family. It was an ideal purchase for Brennan as it adjoined the lot granted the congregation for church and burial ground, and upon which the frame church had been placed. The site had not only the small house but also a stable and attendant outbuilding, a garden plot, and a well. Susannah Moodie in her book "Life in the Clearing" gives us a glimpse of the generosity and kindness of Father Brennan. "In the December of 1840we had the misfortune to be burnt out, and lost a great part of our furniture, clothing, and winter stores. Poor as we then were; this could not be regarded in any other light but as a great calamity. During the confusion occasioned by the fire, and owing to the negligence of a servant to whose care he was especially confided, my youngest child, a fine boy of two years old, was for some time missing. The agony I endured for about half an hour I shall never forget. The roaring flames, the impending misfortune that hung over us, was forgotten in the terror that shook my mind lest he had become a victim to the flames. He was at length found by a kind neighbour in the kitchen of the burning building, whither he had crept from among the crowd, and was scarcely rescued before the roof fell in. This circumstance shook my nerves so completely that I gladly accepted the offer of a female friend to leave the exciting scene, and make her house my home until we could procure another. I was sitting at her parlour window with the rescued child on my lap, whom I could not bear for a moment out of my sight, watching the smoking brands that had oncc composed by home and sadly pondering over our untoward destiny, when Mrs. -'s servant told me that a gentleman wanted to see me in the drawing-room. With littleJohnniestill in my arms I went to receive the visitor, and found that Rev. Father B--, the worthy Catholic priest, waiting to receive me. At that time I knew very little of Father B-. Calls had been exchanged, and we had been much pleased with his courteous manners and racy Irish wit. I shall never forget the kind, earnest manner in which he con-
Rev. Michael Brennan
26
soled with me on our present misfortune. He did not, however, confine his sympathy to words, but offered me the use of his neat cottage until we could provide ourselves with another house. "You know," he said, with a benevolent smile, "I have no family to be disturbed by the noise of the children; and if you will accept the temporary home I offer you, it is entirely at your service; and," he continued, lowering his voice, "If the sheriff is in want of money to procure necessaries for his family, I can supply him until such time as he is able to repay me." "This was truly noble, and I thanked him with tears in my eyes. We did not accept the generous offer of this good Samaritan; but we have always felt a grateful remembrance of his kindness." The small frame building which Fr. Fraser had located on the lot for church purposes had been temporary at best and Brennan, almost from the day he arrived, devoted his attention to the erection of a more suitable and permanent building as a church for the growing congregation. It was not until 1836 that Brennan took firm steps to do something about a more permanent building. On Sunday, August 27, 1836 a meeting was called to consider what could be done. Those attending that meeting were Father Brennan, Donald McLellan, Martin Ryan, Peter O'Reilly, John O'Carroll, Patrick Simon, Hugh McGinnis, John Donague, Francis McConnaughy, [ames Spence and [oseph Champagne. By the end of that year plans were taking shape and the following advertisement appeared in area papers: NEW CATHOLIC
CHURCH
At a meeting held by the Roman Catholics of the Town of Belleville and its vicinity on Monday the 26th, day of December, 1836, for the purpose of taking into consideration the building of a new Catholic churchMoved by Peter O'Reilly, Esq. and seconded by Martin Ryan that the Rev. Michael Brennan do take the chair and that John O'Carroll act as secretary. Resolved that the building be 100 ft. in length, by 50 ft. in width and that the same be built of stone. Resolved that a voluntary subscription do commence in the church on the first Saturday in January, 1837 and do continue monthly until the above work shall be completed and that each subscriber's name be entered in a book held by the Secretary exclusively for that purpose. Resolved that the Rev. Michael Brennan do act as Treasurer and that all money collected for the erection of
the said church shall be handed over to him and the same entered in the church books and monthly examined by the committee. Resolved tha t tenders be recei ved on or before the 16th of January next for the quarrying of the stone by the cord by any of the following persons: Donald McLellan, P. O'Reilly, M. Ryan, Hugh McGinnis, and R. McMichael and said tenders shall be opened on that day at 12 0' clock and the contract entered into. Sufficient securities will be required for the due performance of the same. Resolved that the Belleville Inielligencer, Kingston Chronicle, Toronto Patriot and Montreal Vindicator give the above six insertions and send their accounts to the committee. John a'Carroll Secretary
Michael Brennan President
The committee gave a Mr. Joseph German of Trenton the contract for building the church itself, but on June 18, 1838 the committee recalled the contract because of inferior work and tendered the remainder to Messrs. Matthews and Duff who had built the Belleville Court House and Jail. As master carpenter they employed a local man, John Copeland, who had been born at Slachhead, Scotland, his father being also John Copeland and his mother a Johnston, a cousin of the late John [ohnston, long-time Public School Inspector at Belleville. In 1840, he was married by Father Brennan to Jean Spence of Aberdeen, Scotland, a sister of James Spence who had come to Canada in 1835 and had purchased the Alexander Chisholm house and land on lot 36 Thurlow. John Copeland came to Quebec in 1836 and after short stops at Brockville and Kingston, moved to Belleville. He was an articled carpenter whose first employment at Belleville was at the new County Court House then under construction. Work on the new church had progressed to the point where a cornerstone was placed on September 7, 1837. A memo was entered in the parish records by Brennan as follows: "The cornerstone of the new Catholic church was laid on the 7th of September 1837by the Right Rev. Alex. Macdonell accompanied by the Right Rev. Remigius Gaulin, the Very Rev. William P. McDonald, the Rev. Edward Cordon, the Rev. Murt Lalor and the Rev. Michael Brennan in the first year of the reign of Queen Victoria, Sir Francis Bond Head being Governor of this province. Michael Brennan"
St. Michaels Fansh 1'!jL':J-l ')');5
also had predeceased him. And one of this oldest associates in the ma tters of grammar school ed uca tion Dunbar Moodie predeceased Brennan by only eight days. In retrospect, Brennan was a giant in his own right. He had worked alone for 30 years in the vast territory which had originally comprised St. Michael's Parish. He divided the parish to form others at Picton, Marysville, Trenton, Marrnora, Stoco, Tweed, Madoc, Read, and Stirling. He had fostered educational institutions, both public and separate, for the town and had taken a wide interest in all other public activities affecting the citizens of the area. Brennan was a Bishop's dream as a parish priest. He did his task with such firmness and efficiency that later writers referred to him as one of the outstanding priests of Upper Canada. The surprising thing is that in spite of the high regard with which he was held by Bishop, clergy, city and towns-people, he is never quoted and he left neither writings nor monuments save a parish sound and secure. A review of the early church records, all in his own handwriting, reveals a staggering devotion to his responsibility. Even though he had a curate for the ten final years in the person of his nephew, he did not assign to him those tasks he perceived to be the personal responsibility of the pastor. In the matters of baptisms he performed the first oneon October 13, 1829and his last one on October 11, 1869 only twenty days before he died. In the meantime only 40 baptisms were performed by other clergy. Similar sta tistics apply to marriages and every funeral from October 17, 1829 to July 22,1864 was conducted by himself. After that date the curate performed most funeral services but even then not all. Apart from his rounds of visitation in the earlier days he was almost never away from the parish except on church business. At letter on February 4, 1862 to Bishop Horan reveals that he had been ill for some weeks. He thanked Horan for sending another priest to assist, a Father J. Sauve, who incidentally conducted 13 of the 40 Baptisms performed by-others than Brennan himself. In it he apologizes for inconveniencing the Bishop with his illness. His devotion to duty was heroic even for his own day, let alone ours. The Daily Intelligencer of Monday, November 1st, 1869 published a notice: DEATH OF REV. MICHAEL BRENNAN
The Rev. Michael Brennan for 42 years the Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church of this town, died at his residence in Belleville on Sunday, October 31st, in his 73rd year. The deceased was one of the oldest residents of the town, and much respected by all classes of the community. The remains of the Very Rev. Michael Brennan will be carried processionally from his late residence to St. Michael' s church on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 2nd at 3 o'clock. The funeral obsequies will be performed at 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning.
Daily Intelligencer November 2, 1869: The funeral procession of the late Rev. M. Brennan took place today at 3 0' clock. The cortege passed through the principal streets of the town, followed by about 500 people, comprising every class and grade. As a remark of respect every shop in town was closed while the procession passed. Few men have passed from amongst us more universally respected." From a report of the funeral appearing in the Cobourg Sentinal, and reprinted in the Canadian Freeman on November 11, 1869, we learn of the funeral ceremonies. "The funeral obsequies took place on Wednesday at 10 o'clock. Rev. James Quinn of St. Peter's, New York, a nephew of the deceased, was the celebrant. Rev. M. Mackey of Tyendinaga was Deacon and Rev. Philip Brennan, also a nephew, of Mount Carmel, Sandwich, was Sub Deacon. Rev. Father Howard of Kingston was Master of Ceremonies, Rev. 0 Kelly, V.G. of Peterborough delivered the panegyric. Other clergy present were: V. Rev. James Farrelly, V.G. Administrator of the Diocese; V. Rev. J.M. Bruyere, V.G. Administrator of London; V. Rev. F.P. Rooney, Administrator of Toronto, Rev. Mr. Lalor of Picton, Rev. John Brennan, a nephew of the deceased, and now incumbent at Belleville; Rev. M. Timlin of Cobourg; Rev. B. Coyle of Emily and Ennismore; Rev. E. Roche, Prescott; Rev. H. Brettargh of Trenton; Rev. John O'Brien of Belleville; Rev. M. Stafford of Lindsay; Rev. John Quirk, Hastings and Asphodel; Rev. M. Lynch of Cornwall; Rev. Mr. Proulx, Chaplain to Her Majesty's Forces, Toronto; Rev. Joseph Brown, Port Hope; Rev. George Brophy, St. Charles and Richmond; Rev. ET. Leonard, Napanee; Rev. Ed. Murray, Wolfe Island; Rev. Mr. Gauthier, Gananoque; Rev. Mr. Keilty, Kingston, and Rev. Mr. Davis of Hungerford. "The good and zealous priest was equal to the onerous duties imposed upon him. In frost and snow, in sun and shower, wherever duty called him, over rough roads and through desolate forests, sometimes on foot, sometimes on horseback, oftener the former, did the faithful and zealous priest labour in the work of his Lord and Master. How well he succeeded let the splendid monument of his zeal, industry and perseverence, which are the> glory and pride of Belleville, answer. One of the most splendid churches in the Province, a handsome convent for the education of young ladies and two fine male schools bear testimony to his perseverance and industry as well as to the generosity and religious spirit of his faithful congregation. Rev. Mr. Brennan was a man of the most stern rectitude in matters of justice and moral conduct, in truth he was immutable and ever loyal to his
Rev. Michael Brennan
40
God and Country. He was able to discharge the duties of his ministry up to within a few days of his death and may be said to have died at his post of duty." Finally the entry was made on his behalf in the records he began and where he had so faithfully recorded the passing of his parishioners one by one for 40 years: Very Rev. M. Brennan Rev. Michael Brennan, First Pastor of St. Michael's Church, died at his residence on Church Street on Sunday, the 31st of October, 1869, aged 73. There were present at the interment on November 3rd the undersigned Very Rev. and Rev. Gentlemen: Very Rev. J.M. Bruyere, V.G. London Very Rev. F. Rooney, V.G. Toronto Very Rev. F. Proulx, Toronto Very Rev. O. Kelly, Kingston Very Ref. J. Farrelly Very Rev. M. Lalor Rev. E.B. Roche Rev. M. Lynch Rev. J. O'Brien G.H. Gauthier E. Murray J. Howard J. Keilty F.T. Leonard D.O'Connell J. Quinn T. Doris B. Coyle M. Mackey G. Brophy H. Brettargh M.Timlin J. Quirk J. Brown M. Stafford P. Brennan
J. Brennan His remains still lie at the vestry door on the north side of the present church.