BEGINNING OF ST. BRIGID'S: Father Thomas Kyle, pastor of St. Patrick's Church (founded 1839), realized that something more had to be done to meet the needs of those in his enlarged parish, which then included the Port Schuyler area, the Southern section of the old village of West Troy.  As a result of Father Kyle's efforts, the cornerstone of St. Brigid's was laid and blessed by the first bishop of Albany, John McCloskey, at 3:00 p.m. on October 27, 1850.  Bishop McCloskey later became America's first Cardinal.

        The church, on the northwest corner of Salem and Mansion Streets, was completed in 1851, but the first resident pastor, Father William Cullinan, did not take up his duties until 1854.  In the meantime, St. Brigid's served as a mission where Masses were said by priests probably traveling from Albany, and then later from churches in Troy.  Home Masses were also not uncommon, according to some of our older parishioners, who remember their grandparents' stories of a Jesuit priest rowing across the river to say Mass in private homes on Groton Street.

        In continuous use since the 1850's, St. Brigid's Church's simple lines, in the modern Romanesque style with rounded doors and windows, have not been dated.  The original steeple was much higher than the present one, but it was destroyed by lightning in 1948.

        Inside, the older stained glass windows feature symbols of our faith.  They line both sides of the church.  The windows in the front portray the Immaculate Conception and St. Brigid.  The two in the rear depict the Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord.  These are of a later date as is one over the center door which artistically represents Christ calling people to religious life.

        The lovely frescoes on the ceiling over the sanctuary represent the Assumption of the Blessed Mother.  The other frescoes around the church ceiling portray the apostles and their noble work.