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County: Nelson

Original Site of St. Michael's Parish

Marker Number: 

2526

Location: 

1 mile west of Fairfield on KY-48

Begun in 1792, oldest parish in Nelson Co. and third oldest west of the Alleghenies. Home parish of Catherine Spalding, founder of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN); Frances Gardiner, fourth Superior of SCNs; Richard Miles, first Bishop in the state of TN; Felix Newton Pitt, trailblazer in education; & Grace Newton Simpson, notable Catholic leader of the 19th century. Over.

Reverse Description:

Stephen Badin, first priest ordained in U.S., was the first priest here. Guy Chabrat, first priest ordained in KY, was first resident pastor. The first Catholic parish in Louisville was a mission of St. Michael's. That parish is known today as the Cathedral of the Assumption. The church moved one mile east of this spot in 1831. The current church was built in 1883.

Dedicated September 17, 2017.

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