As early as 1819, three years after Tuscaloosa was founded, Catholics were numerous enough in Tuscaloosa to call meetings for the purpose of devising ways and means of holding worship. Among these early Catholics were Daniel Kelly, Thomas Cummins, Michael Shay, Arthur Bullman, William Clare, Matthew Duffey, John Duffey, and Edmond Rourke. Cummins was a merchant who lived in West End. His house was destroyed and his daughter killed by a tornado in 1842. Shay kept a store near the present site of the post office. Clare kept a hotel in a building at one time occupied by Governor C. C. Clay and called the "Mansion House." He was also a director in the state bank. Duffey kept a hotel at the corner now occupied by the First National Bank and known as Washington Hall. He, also, was a director of the state bank.
The Baptism of Henry S. Rourke, son of Edmond, was the first recorded in the parish. Bishop Portier baptized him on February 4, 1844. The first funeral of which there is a record was that of John Gleason, "aged 63 years, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland." He was buried August 26, 1844. Records show that, prior to 1846, there were at least one hundred Catholics in Tuscaloosa.
Father Larap and Father Shallow of Mobile were the first Catholic clergymen to visit Tuscaloosa. Bishop Portier made his first visit to this place in 1835. In 1838 a Tuscaloosa newspaper stated that "the Rev. Mr. Clancy, of the Roman Catholic Church, will preach in the state house." Later a Catholic priest advertised a series of sermons to be delivered at Clare's hotel.
In 1843 the Catholic people of Tuscaloosa petitioned Bishop Portier for a resident pastor. The bishop, accompanied by Father Patrick R. Hackett, made his second visit to Tuscaloosa. After suitable arrangements were made for the support of the pastor, a residence secured for him, and a place of worship provided, the parish was established in February, 1844. The place selected for worship was the first story of the Masonic Hall on the site now occupied by the Allen and Jemison Company. Services were held there for about a year and then a place on Broad Street almost opposite the post office was chosen. On Sunday, May 5, 1845, a meeting was held at which a committee was empowered to secure a lot and to contract for the erection of a church building. The site where St. John's is located was purchased from Joel White for $300. A contract for building the church was let to Messrs. Granger and Charles Donoho, who agreed to complete, by January, 1846, a brick church 31 feet wide and 55 feet long, for the sum of $2,800. The contract was carried out, and, on Sunday, January 25, 1846, Bishop Portier, assisted by several Catholic clergymen, dedicated the building to the honor and glory of God under the patronage of St. John Baptist.
Following are the names of some of the people who contributed to the building fund: H. A. Snow, Bishop Portier, Father Hackett, Robert Jemison, Governor Joshua L. Martin, Johnson J. Hooper, Dr. W. A. Leland, Judge E. W. Peck, T. F. Samuel, James D. Spiller, Joel White, S. M. Meek, William Cochrane,: Basil Manly, president of the University of Alabama, Dr. John R. Drish, Mike Shea, C. M. Foster, Arthur Bullman, Jeremiah Clements, Ed Tarrant, Professor Stafford, John Glascock, E. M. Burton, Professor F. A. P. Barnard, and many others. Most of the people named were not Catholics. At least two Methodist preachers and one Baptist minister contributed. Thus, in a spirit of tolerance which has happily continued, was the parish founded.
In the spring of 1847 Father Desgaultier succeeded Father Hackett. He remained here until the autumn of 1858. Father Michael Dougherty, whose grave is in front of the church, was the resident pastor in 1858. He died that year. His priestly career was short as he was ordained in 1857. Father D. Manucy (afterwards third bishop of this diocese) was stationed here in 1860. Then Father T. J. M. Murphy became pastor.
In March, 1864, Father William F. McDonough came here and remained pastor until 1874. After other assignments he returned to Tuscaloosa in 1880 and continued his work as pastor until 1884. Father McDonough was only 23 years of age when he came to Tuscaloosa parish. One of his first duties as a citizen of Tuscaloosa was to accompany Major Obediah Berry to the river bank where the two of them surrendered the city to the Federal troops in the spring of 1865. Father McDonough made friends without distinction as to creed. He made many converts and established missions at Selma and Birmingham. He was largely responsible for the building of churches in those places. Because of his oratorical ability, Bishop Quinlan sent him on a lecture tour in the northwestern states some time during the seventies. When Asiatic cholera broke out in Birmingham in 1873, Father McDonough assisted in every way possible, even using the pick and shovel to bury the dead. For short periods of time, Father McDonough was pastor at Eufaula, Selma, and in Mobile.
After his death in 1885 the Mobile Register described Father McDonough as a man of great intelligence and called him an earnest and sincere worker. Garrett, in his Reminiscences, called him "one of the most talented, learned, and pleasant gentlemen of the South." Thomas P. Clinton, who knew him well, wrote, "He was one of the best friends I ever had."
Father Kerwin was pastor from 1875 to 1877. He was considered a great orator, organized a Total Abstinence Society, and brought here Father Coleman, an Angustinian, who conducted the first Mission in Tuscaloosa. For a few months in 1878, Father William J. Hamilton, who had been a chaplain at Andersonville Prison during the War Between the States, was stationed in Tuscaloosa. He was succeeded by Father Crowley who was pastor until 1880. At that time Father McDonough returned and remained until 1884. Father John Cassidy, pastor between 1884 and 1888, established a mission at Blocton, which was continued until 1900 when it was separated from this parish.
During this middle period of the history of the parish many families moved to Tuscaloosa. Patrick Clinton came here from Ireland about 1845 and helped build St. John's church. With hired slave labor, he dug the basement of the Bryce Insane Hospital. After the death of Patrick Clinton, his widow married Dennis Dughan. Their daughter, Margaret, married Anthony McGill. Professor F. S. Walter, father of Mrs. W. A. Ryan, Mrs. Janie Lynch, and Frank Walter, came to Tuscaloosa during the Civil War period. Sterling A. Wood, a brigadier general in the Confederate army and afterwards a Tuscaloosa lawyer, moved to this city soon after the war. He was the father of Mrs. Walter Harris and Mrs. Marie Hill. Patrick Kehoe was the first supervisor at the insane hospital. Charles M. Foster was a prominent merchant of Tuscaloosa and operated a shoe store where the City National Bank is now located. His tannery, situated near the river, was one of the largest in Alabama. Mrs. William R. Smith was a Catholic, but her husband was not one at that time. However, a few years before his death, which occurred in the city of Washington in 1896, he was converted to the Catholic religion. William R. Smith was a man of many talents and had a varied career. He was a writer, a lawyer, and a politician. He represented this distric in Congress for ten years, was a member of the Secession Convention in Montgomery, was a member of the Confederate Congress, led a regiment in the war, and became president of the state university after the war. Other Catholic families of this period were the Bradys, the Ralphs, the Rabittes and the O'Connors.
In February of 1885, Father James P. McCafferty became pastor. He remained in Tuscaloosa until 1900. His tenure was very successful, both in spiritual and material matters. Many converts were made. A school was conducted in the rooms attached to the church during the years 1888 and 1889. In 1888 or 1889, a belfry was built to the church and, in 1890 or 1891, the present pastoral residence was built. Stone steps and a curved stone coping were placed at the front of the church; the inside of the church was decorated; a new roof was put on the church; stained glass windows and new pews were installed; a tombstone was placed over Father Dougherty's grave; and a new altar was placed in the church. Services commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the building of the church were held in January, 1896.
There was universal regret when Father McCafferty left this parish and city. At a meeting of citizens, Mayor W. C. Jemison made an appropriate address, and a Tuscaloosa newspaper called Father McCafferty "a talented, broadminded, and pious priest, who . . . has been most active and successful in advancing the cause of religion in this community. And by his practical common sense and energy, he has got this church entirely out of debt. . . . All of this has been done by superior will, force, energy, brains and goodness. He has become a kind of benediction by his mere presence."
Father Cunningham was pastor during 1900 and 1901. He arranged to have Blocton separated from this parish and made a census of the parish. Father Matthew Gardner was stationed here for a short while in 1901 and was succeeded by Father Thomas Cassidy, who remained as pastor until 1910. Father Cassidy was a fine orator and was very popular among the boys, with whom he played baseball. He was succeeded by Father Sweeney, who was largely responsible for the establishment of the Holy Name Society after a mission in November, 1913. Father Sweeney also began the custom of saying Mass each month at the Bryce Insane Hospital.
In September, 1915, Father Eugene L. Sands became resident priest. This was his first charge after his ordination, and his three years' pastorate was a pronounced success from many standpoints. The work of the Holy Name Society was continued with great benefit to the parish; a Catholic Ladies' Club was formed; Red Cross work was carried on with great success; and parish finances were put in order. Father Sands was a favorite with people of all creeds and ages. He was considered the young peoples' good friend.
Father Sands was outstanding in support of the American cause during the first World War. The Catholic ladies were the first church women of the city to form a unit of the Red Cross. In January 1918, special patriotic services were held at which a service flag was raised in front of the church. At that time the flag contained 9 stars, one a gold star in honor of Anthony Dauser. Before the end of the war, sixteen members of the parish, or about ten per cent of the total membership were in the armed services. During the summer Father Sands volunteered his services as chaplain, and, on August 11, 1918, he preached his farewell sermon to the congregation. After a short training period, he sailed for France where he rendered noble service. Upon his return, the people of Tuscaloosa, at a gathering in the Elks Auditorium, were privileged to hear from him an account of his experiences in France. Several addresses were made by prominent men of the town, and, with regret, Tuscaloosa bade Father Sands Godspeed.
Father Thomas A. Lenahan came to Tuscaloosa in September, 1918. His chief interest was the advancement of Catholic education and welfare work. For many years the parish had owned the lot across the street from the church. Father Lenahan requested the church trustees to deed the land to the bishop, which request was granted at a meeting of the congregation held on May 11, 1919. Through the generosity of Cardinal Dougherty, Father Lenahan was granted permission to solicit funds among the people in and around Philadelphia. Twelve thousand dollars was thus secured, and the diocese of Mobile supplied $9,000 more. The school was built by Mr. A. Romain, a member of the congregation, and was opened in September, 1920. On November 10, Bishop Allen laid the corner stone with appropriate services. The Sisters of Loretto accepted the school and remained in charge for five years. Then the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity conducted the school for a period of six years. Now the Benedictine Sisters are in charge with Sister Isabel as principal. In 1920 there were 75 pupils with 3 sisters and in 1944 there are 130 pupils with 8 sisters in charge.
Other Catholic schools had existed in Tuscaloosa. Father Murphy opened the first Catholic school in 1863. It was conducted in the rooms west of and adjoining the church. It lasted for about a year. In 1865, Mrs. Temple, a Catholic lady, started a school on the northwest corner at Twenty-fifth Avenue and Twelfth Street. In 1866 the Ursuline Sisters established a school on Tenth Street. These nuns returned to South Carolina in 1880 and the school was closed. Father McCafferty conducted a school in the rooms in the rear of the church during the years 1888 and 1889. His assistant was Miss Margaret Dughan, afterwards Mrs. A. M. McGill. Then for a period of 31 years there was no Catholic school in Tuscaloosa.
Because of the increase in the number of Catholic students at the University of Alabama, Father Lenahan determined to secure a convenient meeting place for the Catholic Youth of the University and of the City. In 1923, his mother, Mrs. Mary T. Lenahan, built a house known as the Newman Club for their use near the University Campus and one block south of the Druid City Hospital.
The number of Catholic students continued to increase, and, in 1929, Mrs. Lenahan donated a lot next to the Newman Club, and Bishop Toolen immediately constructed the St. Francis Newman Chapel at a cost of $6,000. It is a constructure 41 feet by 100 feet and seats 500 people. With 600 Catholic students at the University in 1932, it became necessary to have two Masses at the Chapel.
Wishing to devote more of his time to welfare work, Father Lenahan resigned in 1929 and Father A. J. Hackett of the Holy Ghost Fathers assumed the duties as resident priest. The Holy Ghost Fathers were given charge of St. John's parish with its mission at Reform, St. Francis' Chapel, and St. Mary's parish for Negro Catholics. The latter church had been dedicated in October, 1916, by Bishop Allen.
Father Hackett made many improvements. His first endeavor was to finish the interior of St. Francis' and have it decorated. A new altar was donated by the McGill family in memory of their mother. The same family donated the organ as a memorial to their deceased brother, Anthony. Father Lenahan donated the Stations of the Cross and some canvass paintings. The interior of St. John's was redecorated an a heating system was installed in the church and in the rectory.
Four new classrooms, an auditorium, and living quarters for the Sisters were added to St. John's school. A grade was added each year until a complete high school course was offered.
Father Hackett began teaching a credit course in religion, at the University of Alabama, permission for which had been granted Father Lenahan. Missions were regularly held at St. Francis' Chapel during Lent, and an average of ten conversions a year were made. The work of the Newman Club was continued in such an effective manner as to gain the commendation of the Dean of Men at the University.
In 1939, Father Hackett was transferred to New Orleans, and he took with him the good will and respect of the people of the parish and of the city.
Father Michael F. Mulvoy of the Holy Ghost Fathers, succeeded Father Hackett. Under his guidance affairs of the parish have made excellent progress. Both churches and both school buildings have been renovated inside and out. The Newman Club, the Holy Name Society, and the Altar Society are all functioning in a satisfactory manner.
Naturally, the war has affected the lives of the members of St. John's parish to a considerable degree. Seventeen of our young men and women have joined the Armed Forces and of these, three of our young men-Tommy Phillips, Albert Massa, and Leon Huthnance-have laid down their lives for their country. Many others have gone to places where war industries are located. The presence of Catholics among the Armed Forces located at Van de Graaff Field, the Veterans' Hospital, Northington General Hospital, and among the prisoners of war at Aliceville, has greatly increased the work of Father Mulvoy and his assistants, Father Win. L. Lavin, C.S. Sp., and Father F. X. Walsh, C.S. Sp.
Thomas P. Clinton, in his pamphlet, A Hundred Years of Catholicity in Tuscaloosa, expressed the hope that the "hallowed memories of this dear old parish will not be forgotten. . . . Let the Catholics of 1819 be kept in evidence. Let the shades of Father Hackett and Father Dougherty and Bishop Portier be revered and the record of the saintly lives of such zealous souls as Father Murphy, Father McDonough, Father McCafferty and a number of others be handed down to posterity. Let the memories of the . . . patriarchs be kept alive and . . . be an inspiration to both clergy and laity in the uplift of man."