| The first celebration of the mass on a regular basis in what is now the Snohomish County area is believed to have been held by Father Chrouse, who came from the Yakima Valley to Tulalip in 1857, two years before Snohomish was incorporated as a city. He built a church at Tulalip Bay and also a school for the tribe's children. |
| In 1883 Father Louis Custer came to Snohomish from Seattle as a missionary and began a movement to build a church on some property that had been donated to the Catholic's in the area b E.C. Furgeson, the man who is credited for founding the city of Snohomish. Although Fr. Custer was unable to achieve the goal immediately, he continued to celebrate mass in homes until the Alhambra Theater became available for services. |
| In 1886 Father Michael McCauley came to Snohomish as the area's first resident pastor. With his own money, Fr. McCauley began the process of constructing a church in Snohomish. The original building was 55 feet long, 28 feet wide, and had a steeple 80 feet high. The building and accompanying rectory were built for about $1600. The Catholic Church joined two other churches in the city: a Methodist Church and a Presbyterian church. |
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| The church was originally dedicated as "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" but was later changed for unknown reasons to "Saint Michael's" | |||
| In 1920, the church was renovated
and remained much the same until 1986, when the current building was
constructed. The interior of the church stayed much the same until 1986. |
| Following is a list of
priests and initial year of service:
1852 - Fr. Chirouse 1852 - Fr. Mansueto (as a missionary) 1853 - Fr. Louis Custer 1886 - Fr. Michael McCauley 1890 - Fr. F.X. Guay 1894 - Fr. Peter Van Holenbeke 1900 - Fr. John Edwin O'Brien 1902 - Fr. A.J.Bourke (Oversaw Construction of Holy Cross in Granite Falls) 1906 - Fr. T.F.Van de Walle 1948 - Fr. Garrett Galvin 1962 - Fr. Anthony Throckmortin 1966 - Fr. Patrick O'Neill 1972 - Fr. John Peters 1975 - Fr. Michael O'Brien 1979 - Fr. Dennis Champagne (Oversaw Construction of present Church) 1999 - Fr. Richard Ward
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