Vincent  Bacquelin


            The following account of the Catholic Churches and Institutions of Indianapolis is furnished for this work by the kindness of Rev. Dennis O'Donoughue, chancellor of the diocese.
            The first Catholic Church in Indianapolis was built in 1840 by the   Rev. Vincent Bacquelin, then residing in Shelbyville, in this State.  It was called Holy Cross Church, and was situated near West between Washington and Market Streets.  Father Bacquelin was killed by a fall from his horse, Sept. 2, 1846, in a wood near Shelbyville.  His successor with the Rev. John McDermott, who had charge of Holy Cross Church for several years.  The next clergyman in charge was the Rev. Patrick J. R. Murphy, who was transferred to another congregation in 1848.
History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, by B. R. Sulgrove, Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1884, page 406.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

Biography Index       Main Page