St. Lawrence (Swaledale, Iowa)

St. Lawrence (Swaledale, Iowa)

"Archbishop John J. Keane in 1902 directed the pastor of Rockwell, Father Lawrence H. Burns, to build a church in the town of Swaledale in Cerro Gordo County. In the previous ten years Father Garrett T. Nagle had frequently visited the area from his parish in Garner and found a good number of Catholics living a great distance from any church. The town of Swaledale had been platted in 1887. On October 18, 1902, three lots were transferred to the trustees of the Catholic Society of Swaledale; John Finnegan, M. V. Mohoney, and Matt Mulligan. A few months later, on December 20, these trustees conveyed the lots to Archbishop Keane. Despite his poor health, Father Burns carried out the directive, and the church was completed and named for his patron saint."

- Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar, Parish Profile #130, The Witness, June 25, 1989.

The Archdiocese of Dubuque.
The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.

Loras College
Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"

Burback, Emily. Burns, Daniel. Gibson, Michael. Oberfoell, Carol. Waldmeir, Helen. Waldmeir, John.

English.

Various primary and secondary sources.

Parish: 1902-1988; Oratory: 1988-
History of the parish over the span of 86 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.

Abstract of Title (1 document)
History (3 documents)
Maps/ Boundaries (3 documents)
Pastor List (1 document)
Photographs (1 document)
Warranty Deed (2 documents)
Witness (3 documents)

Kucera O.S.B., Archbishop Daniel W. “Official Announcement, Parish Status Changes.” The Witness. 2 July 1989.

“St. Lawrence Mission, Swaledale, Iowa.” Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, 318-319.