The mission was built from logs cut in the Fallowfield area and its purpose was to serve parishioners who otherwise would have traveled a great distance by horse and wagon (or sleigh, in wintertime) to attend Sunday Mass in either Richmond or Bytown.

The wooden chapel was too small to house the growing congregation in the Fallowfield area, and visiting priests would also say Mass in the homes of parishioners that could accommodate sizable groups of people. The Houlahans and the Tierneys are but two of the many families who hosted these services.

There was no resident priest appointed to serve the community, nor was any one person or family designated to keep up the structure of the wooden chapel. Heavy snows in the winter, coupled with the fact the building was not insulated, resulted in dwindling numbers at Mass. A growing apathy towards improving or maintaining the wooden chapel resulted in its inevitable decay.

The emissary was persuasive: on the 14th of July, 1834, an Indenture of bargain and sale was finalized, and two acres of land from Lot 23 for a church and cemetery were purchased from Thomas O'Meara for the sum of two shillings sixpence. Dan Fogarty, Matthew Costello, and Dennis Tierney were the first Trustees. Their names, as well as those of Father John Cullen of Bytown and the Right Reverend Alexander McDonnell of Glengarry, appear on the signed and sealed deed.

As the years passed, over seventy yards of stone and sand were delivered to the building site for the construction of the church and remained unused. Finally, during a visit to St. Philip's Parish in Richmond, Bishop Guigues stressed once again the need for construction to begin on the church in Fallowfield. A citizens' committee was formed to oversee the construction of the new church, which was to be a simple stone building to replace the log chapel.

A large crowd was on hand on the 21st of October, 1866, when St. Patrick's Church was first dedicated and blessed. In his report on his 1866 visit, Bishop Guigues wrote:

"We have audited the books of the construction committee, which is made up of principal citizens. 140 families generally making a good living have vouched for the church. The new church has cost 972 Louis [the currency of France at the time] but the interior is far from finished and the Cemetery should be fenced."

Of his return visit, which took place in 1871, he wrote:

"There are 160 families. The church is of stone and is well-finished inside and is 73 feet long and 40 feet wide. Plans are in the making for a 20-foot extension for a sanctuary and a sacristy. When this is done a resident priest could be established once a residence has been built. A good deal could be had from Mr. Tierney for the land for the rectory."

In 1878 Bishop Duhamel decided it was time for the parish to construct a rectory. In 1884, a building committee - which consisted of Thomas Troy, John R. O'Grady, James Tierney, and Thomas Quinlan - petitioned the bishop, saying they had received a tender from William Brennan to build a rectory according to "plan and specification" for the sum of $4,627.00. The bishop accepted their petition.

Reverend John Coffey, the former parish priest at Onslow, was established as the first resident parish priest at St. Patrick's Fallowfield. Reverend E.J.J. Stenson succeeded Father Coffey on the 1st of July, 1884. Father Stenson died suddenly at the age of 39 and was interred in the church cemetery. Father Stenson was replaced by Father J.A. Sloan, who wrote a letter to the bishop dated June 28th requesting permission to increase the seating capacity by eight pews at a cost of $75.00. The annual reports that each parish must submit to the Archdiocese listed St. Patrick's Fallowfield's pew count at 94, which was misleading as each pew could only seat 3 people and pew rental was based on a three-person pew.

Father Sloan was replaced in 1901, before the extension of the church was implemented. Father Foley became the next parish priest, and remained in the community from 1901 to 1912. The addition to the church was built during his time here. Father Foley would go on to become the editor of The Catholic Record, the leading Catholic newspaper in Canada. Father McCauley arrived in 1912, and served the parish for 31 years. He was a former football star at the University of Ottawa. Father McCauley shared his home at the rectory with his brothers (John, Den, and Ed) and sisters (Kate, Mary, and Sarah). Father James Finn was appointed to assist Father McCauley in 1934.

A new era for St. Patrick's Fallowfield began in 1944, when Father J.J. Burke was appointed as the new parish priest. The League of the Sacred Heart, the Holy Name Society, and the Catholic Women's League (chartered in Canada in 1944) were reinstated. Father Burke worked hard to get the church out of debt, and was notable for his refusal to tithe the farmers for additional funds. In May, 1953, Father Burke celebrated his 25th anniversary in the priesthood, and later earned the title "Canon." He also became Dean of the Ottawa Diocese.

Father D.D. Macdonald came to St. Patrick's in 1961. During his time in the parish the church population grew exponentially and the boundaries of St. Patrick's Fallowfield were changed. As a result of the boundary shift, the parishes of St. Maurice and St. Monica were formed. Father Macdonald eventually left St. Patrick's to officiate at the newly-formed St. Martin de Porres Parish in Bells Corners.

In 1963, Father J.J. O'Donnell was appointed to serve St. Patrick's. It was during Father O'Donnell's three-year tenure that the 100th anniversary of the present church was celebrated. The following entry is taken from the June 12, 1966, entry in our parish records: St. Patrick's Centennial Pontifical Mass, June 12, 1966: "On Sunday the 12th day of June, 1966, we the undersigned Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa, have celebrated the solemn Pontifical Mass, marking the 100th Anniversary of this parish of St. Patrick's Fallowfield. We were cordially greeted by its Pastor Reverend J.J. O'Donnell and were assisted by Canon Tompkins, with Reverend Father D.D. Macdonald, deacon, and Reverend Father T. Farrell, sub deacon. Father Joseph O'Donnell preached the sermon. During the Mass the choir provided beautiful music. Father F. Tierney spoke and we closed the ceremony with a message from Archbishop Lemieux and the giving of the Apostolic Blessing. A message from the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, was read. Afterwards a fraternal reception was held on the church property and a fine dinner for the clergy. We wish to extend our sincere congratulations to Father O'Donnell on the occasion of the Centennial of his parish. May God Bless his Parish! + J.R. Windle.

Father Ed Lunney replaced Father O'Donnell in 1966. Edward Joseph Lunney was born in Pakenham, Ontario, on March 24, 1929. He was one of seven children. Father was ordained at St. Peter Celestine Church in Pakenham on June 4, 1955. Father Lunney was pastor at St. Patrick's for three years. The late Monsignor David Corkery came in 1969 and stayed until 1973. During his time as our parish priest, Father had a new altar installed that faced the people. This changed the way Mass was said (in conjunction with Vatican II.) Father W.G. Fogarty served at St. Patrick's from 1973 to 1976. During Father's time here he had two lecterns made to match the altar; 2 parishioners donated the lecterns. One lectern is in the vestibule of the Church on the right side when you enter. It is used by the Readers to prepare them for the Liturgy to be read on that day. The other lectern is on the left-hand side of the altar where the Readings, the Gospel, and the Sermon are read. Father Fogarty also had a plaque made with the names of former parish priests inscribed on it. It is in the vestibule of the church on the left-hand side when you enter, towards the stairs leading to the choir loft. In 1976, a stained glass window was installed on the left wall of the church near the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The Costello family donated it.

Father James Kleiner joined us in June, 1976. St. Patrick's was his first parish. Father was originally from the United States. Father Kleiner's parents celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary here in August; the whole parish was invited. C.W.L. members decorated the rooms up over the kitchen for Father Kleiner's parents. Father Kleiner and Brian Bateman refinished the figures for the crèche. Mr. William Burke built a new crib from the logs from Grandpa John Rooney's bush. The original background for the statues at Christmas was grey paper that looked like rocks and stones, but this ripped over time. It had been proposed to buy a new set with a stable. The price for a new one was very expensive, so Willie Burke offered to build a new crèche to scale, matching the height of the statues. Each log was picked to match in width and length. The wood was cut and brought out of the bush by Willie Burke and Georges Tessier. The crèche we see at Christmas is the one that Willie Burke made out of those logs felled in the bush. In February, 1977, another stained glass window on the organ side of the church was donated by the Patrick Lennon family, depicting the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Father Kleiner stayed at St. Patrick's for a year. He returned to the United States to become a counselor and a chaplain in a Colorado hospital.

Father Georges Bourque came to us in July, 1977. He was 70 at the time of his posting here. Father Bourque had served in the Northern Mission for forty years and was an Air Force Chaplain during World War II. In the summer of 1978, Father had the stone on the outside of the church and the rectory redone. All of the windows were painted and repaired. New panes of glass were replaced as necessary, though only in the church. The church doors were painted and the antique Ciborium was refinished. Father Bourque stayed with us until 1980.

In June, 1980, Father Corbin Eddy became our pastor. He was originally from the United States. Father's openness and interest in the youth of the parish brought many of them back to Mass. The 11:00 a.m. Mass was always crowded. Father had a new roof put on the church. Father Bourque had initiated the project but had left before an Ottawa firm started work. In December of 1980, the parishioners took a census and it was reported that 800 families were Roman Catholic but only 300 families attended Mass. In 1981, Father Eddy had the opportunity to purchase a pipe organ from a Seminary in the United States that included the price of the organ and the cost of shipping. A parishioner donated the cost. New pews were made for the balcony and the church was re-painted in 1982. Six chandeliers were brought in from a convent in Pembroke and Pascal's made chains. These hang in the church today but do not give off enough light. At Christmastime in 1982, Father Eddy said the five Masses by himself. Father also donated five chairs to the church as a Christmas present. Father Eddy reinstated the choir and got Sister Sheila Finnerty to come out and help the choir get started. Henia Malinowski, a student of Father Eddy's, became the organist. Linda Cormier was the choir director. There were approximately 18 members in the choir. Anthony Davies became our organist in 1987 for the choir at the 11:00 a.m. Mass and on other special occasions. A new piano was donated to the church in 1985.

In 1984, Father Patrick Dalquist came to St. Patrick's from a Monastery in the United States. He was a very quiet, gentle man who stayed here for a short time. He left us in January, 1985. Father Normand Bonneau taught at St. Paul's University and in his free time was assistant to Father Eddy. Father Bonneau could sing and often played his guitar at the Masses. In his sermons, he would take the congregation on trips to the Holy Land of the Gospel and Readings, giving us a clearer picture of that part of the world.

In the spring of 1985, the vestry was redone, insulation was put on the North wall, new doors were hung and the room was re-decorated. Material was provided by the CWL to make 8 to 10 altar cloths; Gemma De Kemp was the seamstress.

Father Eddy was the Director of Liturgy for the Archdiocese. He is a very talented organist and the people who were lucky enough to hear him enjoyed his playing. He invited different types of musicians with their instruments to play on special occasions and broadened our tastes in liturgical music. Father Ralph McKay, of Nova Scotia, was also a great help to Father Eddy.

Decker, Father Eddy's dog, was a welcome sight, especially to the children at St. Patrick's. He would greet you on the church steps and wait for the children after Mass to come and scratch his ears, give him a hug, or just stroke his back. It was fun to watch the children scurry out of church to make sure they were the first ones to reach Decker. Decker also participated in a spring ritual not unlike the Polar Bear Club's in the winter. When the spring puddles were deep and wide, Decker would lower himself slowly into the centre of the water and savour the moment.

On Sunday, July 27, 1986, we had a farewell party for Father Eddy. The parish presented him with a beautiful oil painting of the church and rectory and Decker was in the painting. The artist was Maureen Jullion, a member of the parish.

On August 1, 1986, we welcomed Father Paul Baxter. Father was a teacher and vice-principal at St. Pius X High School and the Administrator of St. Peter's Community in Ottawa. St. Patrick's Church was declared a Heritage Building in 1987. Mayor Ben Franklin unveiled the plaque at the front of the church.

On August 1, 1986, we welcomed Father Paul Baxter. Father had been a teacher and vice-principal at St. Pius X High School and the Administrator of St. Peter's Community in Ottawa. St. Patrick's Church was declared a Heritage Building in 1987. Mayor Ben Franklin unveiled the plaque at the front of the church.

In the summer of 1987, the cemetery committee (Walter Scott, John Monaghan and Bill Burnett) took down the old wooden cross in the cemetery and replaced it with an all-steel one made by Ray Clarke that was painted white.

Father Baxter had an assistant, Paul Shepherd of Ottawa, who helped him for two years. Paul was studying for the Priesthood while staying at the rectory and doing what he could to help the people in the parish.

On June 4, 1989, Father Baxter celebrated his 30th Anniversary in the Priesthood. It was held on the lawn of the rectory. A multitude of friends and former students came to join in the celebration.

On January 20, 1989, Paul Shepherd was ordained to the Deaconate at St. Patrick's. A reception was held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School. He was presented with a handmade quilt by the C.W.L.

Deacon Paul Shepherd was ordained at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica on June 24, 1989, at 10 a.m. The choir from our church sang at his Ordination. The next day, Father Shepherd celebrated his first Mass outside on the lawn in front of St. Patrick's. 800 people and 8 priests attended and the choir sang under the direction of David Gagnon, who was the choir director.

Father Tom Vowell was our Sunday Assistant. He had been with us for a few years. He was originally from Kansas and was a student at St. Paul's University. Dan Dubroy joined us here while he was doing his course at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital in Pastoral Work among the ill. On December 15, 1990, he was ordained a priest.

Father Dubroy was assigned to a parish in Orleans, Ontario. Archbishop Marcel Gervais appointed Father Rick Jaworski assistant pastor here on January 1, 1991.

Our parish has grown considerably over the past 133 years and Kathleen Kennedy is our first full-time administrative assistant. Kathy joined us on March 10, 1986, during Father Corbin Eddy's term. Her dedication and contribution to all parish activities have made her a valuable asset to the parish.

The parish and surrounding community was saddened by the death of Father Paul Baxter on October 9, 1998. Nearly 4,000 people gathered inside the church and outside on the lawn near the cemetery for Father Baxter's funeral and interment the following Monday morning.

Archbishop Marcel Gervais appointed Father Tom Riopelle as Pastor of St. Patrick's Fallowfield on November 29, 1998. Father Riopelle's energy and commitment to St. Patrick's will serve the parish well as we move forward to the 21st century.