1920: BSP Catholic Mission Carnival

Trenton Times, Friday, June 11, 1920

The Broad Street Park Catholic Mission, the predecessor of the Church of the Holy Angels parish, utilizing Gibbs Hall on South Broad Street for meetings and Mass, sponsored this carnival to raise funds to purchase land and build a church. 

1921: First Lady Harding's Gift

Trenton Evening Times, Tuesday, May 10, 1921

Trenton Evening Times, Friday, May 13, 1921

1921: Temporary Chapel

Trenton Evening Times, September 29, 1921

1940s South Broad Street

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP POLICE ARCHIVES

This is South Broad Street looking north at Sewell Avenue.  Absent is the traffic signal and the left turn lane in  the island in the foreground that exists today.  The spire of Holy Angels Church is seen in the upper center portion of the photograph.  With a right click open link in new window you can see the truck delivering coal in the upper right corner.

1949: Slow Going



Former Holy Angels Parish Rectory

Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection

 This home located at 31 New Cedar Lane was purchased by Father Walsh on October 28, 1936 for use as a convent and served that purpose until a new convent was constructed in 1951.  When the Sisters of St. Francis moved out, Monsignor McCorristin took over the building for himself and his assistants.  It served as the parish rectory until 1953.  The parish retained ownership and it was occuped by the parish custodian for many years.  The home looks the same today except that the driveway portico is gone and the first and second floor porches are enclosed with windows.     

1937: Holy Angels Boy Scouts

Trenton Times, July 18, 1937

Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection

 The sponsorship of the boy scout troop continued for a number of decades after the troop pictured above   was organized.  Yours truly was a member of the troop when it met in a one-room building at the end of New Cedar Lane in the late 1950s.

1926: Holy Angels' New Church

Holy Angels Church on South Broad Street

Ground was broken on June 20, 1926 for a new church to replace Holy Angels' combination church/school erected in 1921. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Christmas Eve 1926. The cornerstone was laid and the new edifice solemnly dedicated by Bishop Walsh on May 8, 1927.

1920: Church Site Purchased

On September 15, 1920, Rev. Peter J. Hart, pastor of the Broad Street Park Catholic Mission, purchased a parcel of land at the corner of New Cedar Lane and Lafayette Avenue. The construction of a combination Church and school building began on the site in the spring of 1921. The first Mass was celebrated in the new building and the building was dedicated by Bishop Walsh on October 9. The canonical establishment of the parish occurred a few days after the dedication and the new parish was named Church of the Holy Angels.

1912: Catholic Mission

1915 South Broad Street

Gibbs Hall in 1912

In the summer of 1912, the Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton was approched by a committee who desired to establish a Catholic parish in Broad Street Park. A census of the area was undertaken to determine the number of Catholics and the result was the formation of the Broad Street Park Catholic Mission. Gibbs Hall, 1915 South Broad Street, was rented for Sunday afternoon meetings. In the fall of 1915, the Bishop established a mission church. Gibbs Hall was permanently leased and transformed into a church. The first Mass was celebrated on Sunday, August 13, 1916. In 1918, the Bishop placed the mssion church under the jurisdiction of Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton.