History of St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's began offering Catholic services to the people of North Grafton as a mission in 1882. Father James Boyle of St. Philip's Church, Grafton Center began construction of the church on the main road from Westboro on the slope of a gentle hill. Actually, until 1896, the people of North Grafton worshipped in a roofed-over base which was low and wide, and covered with dark-colored brick. It was facetiously called "Fort Boyle" because of the military characteristics of Father Boyle.
In 1887, Father Boyle was succeeded by Father John R. Murphy who seriously undertook the completion of St. Mary's Church. The parish had grown, so new plans by Providence architect James Murphy were substituted for the original. A Romanesque building with cruciform outlines was completed in 1886. It was dedicated on Sunday, November 29, 1896 at a Solemn High Mass by the Reverend Thomas D. Beaven, Bishop of Springfield. Thirty-four priests were present at the Mass which was followed by Confirmation of 120 children.
The $20,000 mission church was said to be "neat, commodious, and unusually beautiful".
Disaster struck this lovely church on March 30, 1948. A fire of unknown origin broke out in the church one hour after a requiem Mass was offered by Father F. Mullahy. It completely destroyed the church, with an estimated loss of $75,000. At the height of the fire, Father Guy Rossi from Wellesley, was passing by the church. He succeeded on his third try in bringing out the sacred vessels through the heavy smoke. Services for the North Grafton people were then held at the Grafton State Hospital until Christmas of 1948.
Plans were completed for the construction of a new church on the site of the original one. The cornerstone was laid on August 15, 1948. The first Mass was celebrated in the newly completed church on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, and it was dedicated on Friday, May 19, 1950. The newly installed Bishop of Worcester, the Reverend John J. Wright, blessed and dedicated the church, assisted by 10 priests, and confirmed 69 children after the dedication ceremony.
During the mission years, the rectory was at St. Philip's in Grafton. When Father John Finn was named first Pastor of the new parish in 1952, he resided in a neighbor's house across the street from the present rectory. This house was later purchased by the parish, and since has been torn down to enlarge the parking lot. The rectory was the first big project of the new parish. I was completed and blessed on May 5, 1954, by Bishop Wright.