St. Mary's of the Knobs Church History

St. Mary's of Knobs Church Cemetery Page

A Brief History of Catholicism in Floyd county, Indiana

In the late 1700's pioneers began settling along the Falls

of the Ohio. Among these early pioneers were Roman Catholics

from Maryland.

The early settlements were along the Ohio River and other

Kentucky waterways. After the capture of Fort Sackville at

Vincennes, the Buffalo Trace (Hiway 150) became a major inland

route for settlers.

Father Benedict Joseph Flaget (later Bishop of Bardstown) said

the first Mass in Floyd County (1792)  at a private home in

New Albany. He was going to Vincennes and making a circuit

of his parish. This "circuit on horseback", stopping at private

homes, continued until 1823 when St Mary of the Knobs was built.

Roman Catholics in Floyd County saw a priest infrequently, until

1836 when Father Louis Neyron was assigned as pastor of Floyd

County. He founded Holy Trinity, his residence, in 1836 . Once

a month or less frequently, Father Neyron traveled to St Mary

of the Knobs, tending to the spiritual needs of the county residents.

The St Mary of the Knobs Congregation grew to such a size, that

in 1845 the parish was divided. The new parish was dedicated "The

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (often called Little St Mary

or St Mary Navilleton.) As these St Mary congregations grew, they

were further divided and the new parishes were formed: St Mary

Annunciation (New Albany--1852); St Joseph on the Hill (1853)

and St John Starlight (1861).

(submitted by Lonnie Fink)