Despite being one of the earliest states to have European settlers, New Hampshire was late to having a Catholic community. While the colony began in 1623, there were no organized Catholic communities there until the 19th century.
The Granite State’s first Catholic church, Old St. Mary Church in Claremont, was erected in 1823. The building held the first Catholic school in the state, and in fact, the first Catholic school in all of New England. In 1830, another St. Mary's Church was established in Dover, and gradually the Catholic population grew as Irish and French-Canadian immigrants arrived to work in local textile mills.
Finally, in 1884, the Diocese of Manchester was created, separating New Hampshire from the Diocese of Portland, Maine. Today, the Diocese of Manchester encompasses the entire state with 88 parishes and 26 Catholic schools, serving some 235,000 Catholics.
If you find yourself visiting scenic New Hampshire, don’t miss these beautiful Catholic sites. Any of them would be a wonderful place to plan a pilgrimage, especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
1St. Joseph Cathedral, Manchester
St. Joseph Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Manchester and a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture. Dedicated in 1869, it recently underwent extensive restoration that preserved its architectural integrity while enhancing its sacred beauty.
Don’t miss the luminous stained glass windows, majestic pipe organ, and ornately carved altar. The cathedral's soaring spire is a landmark in Manchester's skyline and a testament to the faith of early Irish immigrants who built it.
2Ste. Marie Parish, Manchester
Ste. Marie Parish is an unforgettable symbol of the French-Canadian heritage that deeply influenced New Hampshire Catholicism. Established in 1880 to serve the French-American community, the parish maintains the French spelling of its name to honor this legacy.
The church's stunning Gothic architecture features twin spires, intricate stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes, and ornate interior woodwork crafted by artisans from Quebec.
Ste. Marie is a spiritual home for descendants of those early immigrants while preserving that original mission, as their website states:
Ste. Marie Parish became a beacon of light which brought dignity and hope to French Canadian Catholic immigrants. Today, in the midst of a disintegrating society marked by alienation, loneliness and despair, we feel a particular urgency to rekindle and magnify the power of that beacon; for only the Light of Christ can overcome the darkness of this present age and only His Love can bring us fullness of life.
3St. Anne Parish, Berlin
Located in the heart of New Hampshire's North Country, St. Anne Parish is another magnificent example of French-American Catholic heritage. Established in 1885, this architectural treasure is part of the Good Shepherd and Holy Family Parish and is currently undergoing restoration.
Don’t miss the extraordinary religious art, including hand-painted ceiling murals, intricately carved wooden stations of the cross, and stained glass windows from France. The church's massive pipe organ, installed in 1899, is one of the largest in New England.
St. Anne's is a witness to the deep faith that sustained generations of paper-mill workers in this industrial community.
4St. Patrick Parish, Jaffrey
An unusual feature of New England is the many walls and buildings crafted from the abundant local stone. St. Patrick Parish is a charming example of this tradition.
The parish has a truly delightful history resource, including this description of how the church came to be built:
Father Hennon began plans for a new church and the foundation was laid in 1915 on the west side of the rectory. He was a man of boundless energy and frugal foresight. Father Hennon and his flock decided that there was an ample amount of rock lying about the fields and pastures to provide building material for the external walls of the new church. Gathering the stones also had another beneficial effect in that it helped to clear the terrain for farming and grazing. So it was that each Sunday for several years, parishioners on their way to church traveled in fieldstone laden buggies and wagons which they unloaded into neat piles. Father Hennon was also seen about the countryside gathering the loose granite and placing the pieces in his buggy to be deposited near the building site.
We recommend checking out the parish history page, especially the stories about Father Furlong’s puppy and St. Patrick’s summer lawn parties. It is a delightful window into the many stories about this beloved rural parish.
Visitors will enjoy the church’s architectural beauty and its peaceful setting against the backdrop of Mount Monadnock, one of New England's most beloved natural landmarks.
5Our Lady of the Mountains Shrine, Bretton Woods
Part of Gate of Heaven Parish established in 1908, Our Lady of the Mountains Shrine has a bright, pretty church building but it’s the mountains and outdoor space around it that really make it worth the trip.
Nestled in the majestic White Mountains near the historic Mount Washington Hotel, the shrine to Our Lady attracts pilgrims and tourists alike, particularly during summer months, as the mountains uplift the spirit toward prayer and reflection.
When the psalmist wrote “I raise my eyes toward the mountains,” perhaps something like this splendid place was what he had in mind.
Bonus Site: St. Patrick Mission Church, Twin Mountain
Another “stone church,” this hidden gem is a great example of early 20th-century mountain parish architecture with its distinctive fieldstone construction. Established in 1915 as part of Gate of Heaven Parish, this charming mission church was built using stones gathered from the local streams and fields.
What makes this site especially charming is that it was established as a “tourist church” since its founding, designed to serve Catholic visitors exploring New Hampshire's mountains during the early automobile tourism era. It’s a beautiful spot to stop and pray, and enjoy a place that is distinctively New Hampshire.
