St. Frances of Rome in the mid-1980s
Before the early 1960s, Catholics in Alleghany County traveled to Elkin or to North Wilkesboro to attend Mass. It was in 1961 that priests from North Wilkesboro began traveling to Sparta, just four miles from the Virginia border, to celebrate Mass. Back then, Mass was celebrated in the Sparta Community Center, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, the homes of area Catholics and in the cafeteria of a shoe factory.
Though small in number, the Catholic population was determined to spiritually reinforce its presence by building a church. In 1965, a grant from the Catholic Church Extension Society and the Darr family helped pave the way for construction to begin.
Bishop Vincent S. Waters of Raleigh dedicated St. Frances of Rome Church in September 25, 1966 in memory of Frances Payne Darr, mother of Ed Darr, one of the original members. The church continued to be staffed by priests from North Wilkesboro until 1976. During that year, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson assumed pastoral care of the Sparta church. Priests of the Glenmary Home Missioners also arrived to serve at the churches in Alleghany and Ashe counties.
In the mid-1980s, the St. Frances of Rome family began a fundraising drive to build a multipurpose education building. After again turning to the Catholic Church Extension Society for assistance, the Catholic community in Sparta oversaw the building’s construction. Then-Bishop John F. Donoghue of Charlotte blessed and dedicated the structure in October 1986 at a Mass attended by more than 200 Catholics, friends and clergy, including then-pastor Glenmary Father John Otterbacher.
Glenmary priests served the mission church until 1998, when diocesan priests assumed pastoral care. Fathers Ronald Marecki, Wilbur Thomas, Mark Lawlor and C. Morris Boyd were a few of the pastors to serve Sparta Catholics after the Glenmary priests. Father Patrick Winslow served the church from July 2004 until July 2006. Father Joseph Dinh served as pastor from July 2006 until July 2010. Father James Stuhrenberg served from July 2010 until July 2020. Father Cory Catron was assigned the new pastor to St. Frances of Rome in July 2020. The parish currently consists of 535 registered parishioners and counting.
Though small in number, the Catholic population was determined to spiritually reinforce its presence by building a church. In 1965, a grant from the Catholic Church Extension Society and the Darr family helped pave the way for construction to begin.
Bishop Vincent S. Waters of Raleigh dedicated St. Frances of Rome Church in September 25, 1966 in memory of Frances Payne Darr, mother of Ed Darr, one of the original members. The church continued to be staffed by priests from North Wilkesboro until 1976. During that year, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson assumed pastoral care of the Sparta church. Priests of the Glenmary Home Missioners also arrived to serve at the churches in Alleghany and Ashe counties.
In the mid-1980s, the St. Frances of Rome family began a fundraising drive to build a multipurpose education building. After again turning to the Catholic Church Extension Society for assistance, the Catholic community in Sparta oversaw the building’s construction. Then-Bishop John F. Donoghue of Charlotte blessed and dedicated the structure in October 1986 at a Mass attended by more than 200 Catholics, friends and clergy, including then-pastor Glenmary Father John Otterbacher.
Glenmary priests served the mission church until 1998, when diocesan priests assumed pastoral care. Fathers Ronald Marecki, Wilbur Thomas, Mark Lawlor and C. Morris Boyd were a few of the pastors to serve Sparta Catholics after the Glenmary priests. Father Patrick Winslow served the church from July 2004 until July 2006. Father Joseph Dinh served as pastor from July 2006 until July 2010. Father James Stuhrenberg served from July 2010 until July 2020. Father Cory Catron was assigned the new pastor to St. Frances of Rome in July 2020. The parish currently consists of 535 registered parishioners and counting.
