Sacred Heart History

Postcard of Original Sacred Heart Church

The Orginial Sacred Heart Church Flourished for 95 Years

Compiled by Linda Palm, 2016

In the late 1860’s, Catholic families began coming to the Stamford area in northern Delaware County, New York. Some came because of the arrival of the railroad and others because of the advent of the summer boarding business in the region. The need for a Catholic Church soon became apparent, and in 1869 the site for a church was purchased by Rev. Thomas Riley from Cobleskill.

The church was built in 1870 in the southwest section of the village known as “Brooklyn” at the time, under the direction of Rt. Rev. J.J. Conroy, Bishop of Albany. Ground was broken in May and the church was dedicated on October 25 by Bishop Conroy, who was assisted by Rev. T.W. Riley.

Since 1966

A severe windstorm in February of 1965 damaged the failing church structure and the building was declared unsafe because of cracked timbers in the ceiling.

Plans for a new church were formulated. Construction began in April 1966. While it was located on the same site as the old structure, the new Sacred Heart Church was built facing the west.