St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Tennessee Ridge TN

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a small Parish nestled in the tiny town ofTennessee Ridge, TN. The church was started back in 1977 by a few determined Catholics. Prior to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, or SEAS as it is commonly referred to, the parishioners in this area belonged to St. Patrick's in McEwen, TN.

In 2005 the parish underwent its first major renovation. The entire worship space was redone with some adjustments to the vestibule area. Our parish sits at the edge of the wood line and we have small windows which line the upper part of the room so you can see the woods from the nave of the church. The inside of the sanctuary is done in piled rock and so it is like your sitting in a beautiful grotto in the woods, a truly prayerful spot.

The membership at SEAS may not be large but the love and fellowship is!

 

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The first Mass was offered in Houston County, Saturday evening, June 3, 1973. The events leading up to that historical and blessed day are brief and simple. It became apparent to some of the Catholics who had settled in the area that their numbers were growing and that perhaps there was the nucleus of a parish. A few of the people were attending Mass in McEwen while others were attending in Clarksville.

Due to confusion as to the parochial base, Dr. Douglas Ligon, a resident of Erin, who had been attending Mass in Clarksville, first contacted Father William E. Morgan in that city about the possibility of having Mass in Erin, Father Morgaon of course advised Dr. Ligon to contact Father Paul A. Hostettler at St. Patrick Church in McEwen, the parochial headquarters for Houston and Humpherys Counties. When Dr. Ligon, who had made a survey through the local newspaper, was able to furnish a list of thirty households and over eighty individuals, Father Hostettler petitioned Bishop Joseph A. Durick for permission to offer Sunday and Holy Day Masses in Erin.

Through the kindness and courtesy of the Reverend Ted Malouf and his congregation, the Erin United Methodist Church was placed at the disposal of the budding Catholic community. When the Reverend Malouf was transferred to Nashville, his successor, the Reverend Thomas Deramus, proved to be equally kind and courteous in sharing the facilities of the United Methodist Church with what had become know as the Erin Tennessee Catholic Community.

In 1974, in a magnanimous act of charity which seemed like a dream but which was really God's way of making a dream come true, Sister Henrietta of St. Vincent de Paul, offered to furnish the funds to build a church in Houston County in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Neuhoff. Before negotiations had been finalized, Bishop Durick resigned from office. his successor, Bishop James D. Niedergeses, completed the negotiations and accepted the proffered gift.

Bishop Niedergeses took a personal hand in all the subsequent plans. He came to Houston County to meet with the parish committee which had been looking for suitable property for the building site. The ten acre tract of highway 49 in Tennessee Ridge which was approved by the Bishop and purchased from the Mallory family was thought to be more centrally located to serve the Catholics in the area what property in Erin. Bishop Niedergeses hired the architect firm of Jordan and Meiers of Nashville to design the building and eventually awarded the construction contract to Self and Sons of Nashville.

When Bishop Niedergeses was asked to name the proposed new church he requested that the parish community be surveyed for suggestions. The name of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, first American born Saint, was recommended more than any other name. The Bishop readily approved that choice.

Bishop Niedergeses officiated at the groundbreaking ceremonies on Sunday, July 25, 1976. Others taking part were Sister Henrietta and Sister Mary Helen, members of the Neuhoff family, monsignor Joseph H. Siener, Father Joseph F. Tarpy, Father William E. Morgan, Father Hostettler, the Reverend Thomas Deramus, the Mayors of Tennessee Ridge and Erin, and approximately thirty-five parishioners.

The construction was well underway on June 17, 1977 when Father Hostettler was transferred and Father Joseph J Brando was appointed to his first pastorate as pastor of St. Patrick Church, McEwen, and charged with the responsibility of supervising the completion of the first Catholic church in Houston County--St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

The first Mass was offered on November 6, 1977 in the New church building by Father Brando. Bishop Niedergeses returned to Houston County on December 11, 1977 to give the Solemn Dedication of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. (Page from the original dedication program)