History of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish

Newport, Ohio

The story of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church begins with the Catholics who first settled in this area. It is known that about the year 1837, when the Miami Erie Canal had been completed from Cincinnati to Piqua, a sizable number of French people had already settled in the area of Shelby and Darke Counties. Father Louis Navarron was sent to minister to the people of this area. A log church, St. Valbert, was built in 1840 near Versailles, because it was centrally located in the territory under Father Navarron’s administration. As early as 1840, it is recorded that he had become acquainted with the Catholics in the New Port area, and occasionally celebrated Mass in the Village. By 1844 the entire canal had been completed through New Port north to Toledo. During these years, the Village of New Port was administered to as a Mission by the Pastor of St. Valberts.

In 1856 Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Newport was originally built. According to records, it was a beautiful church. The foundation was of stone, and the superstructure was of bricks, hand molded of local clay and burnt near the site of the church. Timbers were cut in adjoining forests and dressed lumber was hauled from Piqua. The men of the parish supplied the labor. Built into the brick wall above the front entrance was a stone cross inscribed, “Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 1856.” This cross has been preserved and is now embedded in the east wall of the present church.

Sts. Peter & Paul Church remained a Mission Church for thirty years. It was administered from St. Valberts and later from St. Remy in Russia. An 1881 financial and statistical report sent to the chancery stated that there were 20 families in the parish – one English speaking, nine German speaking and ten French speaking. The church was valued at $600. There was no rectory. Mass was celebrated at the church once a month, on the first Sunday. cont'd...

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