Beginning

Prior to the year 1860, Catholics who settled around Liberty (later to be known as Cohocton) attended church in a small frame church on Sandy Hill in Perkinsville. It was a small log frame Church, built in 1838. It was common for people to walk from 10 to 20+ miles to attend Mass.

The first Mass said in the Township of Cohocton was in 1858 by Father Serge DeShoulpinkoff, a Russian Catholic priest from Perkinsville. (1)

The mission of Cohocton must thank the Rev. Michael Stager for its existence. We read in one of his notes: On the 8th day of May A.D. 1860 the first service in Cohocton was held in the home of Urban Gehrig, by the Rev. Michael Steger, pastor of St. Patrick's Church in the village of Dansville. On February 14, 1860 the Rt. Rev. Joseph Timon D.D. Bishop of Buffalo gave permission for the construction of a church here. From the beginning of the year 1861 this mission of Liberty, now Cohocton was attended by Rev. Steger.

In July, 1861 the building of the wooden frame Church on Hill Street was begun. Many non – Catholics contributed generously in the form of money and materials. The initial, building was approximately 14’ x 38’ and costing about $1,400.(2) Note that the picture to the right shows the building after an addition at the rear of the church was added in 1883.

The first public service was conducted in October, 1861.(3)

Fr. Steger and the priests who came after him through 1872 lived in Bath and served St. Mary’s Church there. Priests also came from St. John the Baptist Church in Elmira.(4)