Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

setts, graduating in 1870. His priestlycourse
was completed at the Grand Seminary
in Montreal, Canada, in 1876, and
he was ordained to the priesthood December
23, 1876, by the Most Rev. Archbishop
Charles Fabre, archbishop of Montreal.
Father Preston was located for a time
in Meriden, Connecticut, as a curate of
the Church of St. Rose of Lima. In April,
1883, upon the death of the pastor, Rev.
A. Princen, Father Preston began his administration
of St. James' Parish in Dan-
ielson, Connecticut. During his stay
there he was instrumental in accomplishing
much towards the remodeling and
renovating of the church and the decreasing
of the church debt. He was a prime
factor in the movement resulting in the
building of a parochial school at a cost
of $16,000. In 1895, St. James "passed
under the jurisdiction of the Missionary
Fathers of Our Lady of La Salette of
Hartford," and this year also marked the
close of Father Preston's pastorate there.
His services were transferred to the par-
ish of which he is the present incumbent,
St. Patrick's Parish, of Thompsonville,
Connecticut. This parish was organized
in 1863, the first resident pastor being the
Rev. Bernard Tully. The predecessor of
Father Preston was Rev. Joseph Gleason,
during whose administration the cornerstone
of the fine new church was laid, August
11, 1889. The parish has four thousand
communicants. Father Preston was appointed
to St. Patrick's parish, in Thomp-
sonville, December 8, 1895, which had a
debt of $35,000 and a church to be completed.
The first work in the parish was
$2,000 expended in the renovation of the
convent. He also succeeded in paying
$25,000 off of the debt. His chief ambi-
tion has been to complete the magnificent
brown stone edifice which will cost fully
$200,000. In his work he has had the
hearty cooperation of all the members of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the parish. St. Patrick's new church is
masterfully constructed of Portland stone,
laid in broken ashler, and is Romanesque
in its architectural lines. It is one hun-
dred and fifty feet long and is, exclusive
of a beautifully rounded truncated tower
that swings off from the front at the gos-
pel end, sixty-five feet wide at the facade.
Its great tower, on the corner of two
streets, is remarkable for its massive gen-
erosity, and the whole front, with its three
great portals, presents, architecturally, a
most noble appearance. The church is
especially to be commended for its rear
view, with its Roman apse, producing a
strikingly solid effect. The interior of the
main auditorium will seat fourteen hun-
dred people ; its lines are perfect and delight
the eye of the keenest critic. Within
are three marble altars, one of which was
the gift of Mr. Thomas Preston, Sr., of
New Haven, in memory of his wife, Mrs.
Margaret (Bannon) Preston. The main
altar is a marvel of workmanship. The
window over the main altar of the cruci-
fixion was the gift of the pastor, Rev.
Thomas J. Preston. The window on
epistle side, the Resurrection, was given
by the Rev. Terence J. Dunn, in memory
of his father and mother, John and Elizabeth
Rossiter Dunn.
For almost a quarter of a century
Father Preston has labored tirelessly for
the good of his flock. Through his good
works and helpful ministering, he has
made many loyal and lasting friends, irre-
spective of creed or belief. He is beloved
by all, especially by the little children,
who revere him for his kindly word and
helping hand. Charities are continually
flowing out for the benefit of the unfort-
unate and the needy, and there is an in-
spiration and diffusing joy about him that
is as refreshing to the human heart as
water to the parched and thirsty earth.
The work of the church and attendant du-