Archbishop Whealon Dedicates St. Thomas Becket Church as Cheshire Parish Enters a New Era
- Richard {Reggie} Smith
- Jul 11
- 4 min read
October 1973 marked a milestone for one of Cheshire's newest Catholic communities
By Richard "Reggie" Smith Research/Editor The Cheshire Ct Phoenix News
In the autumn of 1973, Cheshire celebrated two significant milestones occurring just days apart. While town officials and residents prepared to commemorate the acquisition of the historic Farmington Canal Lock on Brooksvale Road, parishioners in southern Cheshire gathered for another historic occasion—the dedication of the new St. Thomas Becket Church by Archbishop John F. Whealon of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
The dedication, held on Sunday, September 30, 1973, represented the culmination of several years of planning, fundraising, and volunteer effort by one of Cheshire's fastest-growing Catholic parishes.
A Young Parish Finds a Permanent Home
According to The Cheshire Herald, St. Thomas Becket Parish had been officially established only a few years earlier, in May 1970, when Archbishop Whealon decreed the formation of the new parish to serve the expanding southern section of Cheshire.
By the time of the dedication, the parish had already grown to approximately 500 families, reflecting the rapid residential development occurring throughout Cheshire during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The striking modern church was constructed on approximately six acres along North Brooksvale Road, directly opposite what was then Norton School.
Its dramatic contemporary architecture—with soaring rooflines, expansive stained-glass windows, and a simple yet elegant sanctuary—stood in sharp contrast to many traditional New England church buildings of the period.
Archbishop Leads Solemn Dedication
The dedication Mass drew a capacity congregation of parishioners and invited guests.
Presiding over the ceremonies was The Most Reverend John F. Whealon, Archbishop of Hartford.
He was joined by several clergy members, including:
Rev. Father Kenneth Frisbie, pastor of St. Thomas Becket
Rev. Father Arthur Hanley, pastor of St. Bridget's Church
Rev. Father Eugene Torpey, pastor of Epiphany Church
Approximately thirty invited clergymen from throughout the Archdiocese
The dedication formally consecrated the new church for worship, marking the parish's transition from temporary facilities into its permanent home.
Father Kenneth Frisbie Reflects
Writing in The Cheshire Herald, Father Kenneth Frisbie described the dedication as one of the most significant days in the parish's young history.
He noted that while many people naturally focused on the beauty of the new building, the greater accomplishment belonged to the parishioners whose work and sacrifices had made the project possible.
Father Frisbie expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the effort—from parish leadership to volunteers who devoted countless hours over several years to fundraising, planning, and construction.
He reminded parishioners that although the building had now been dedicated, the true mission of the church remained the spiritual life of its congregation.
Modern Design Reflects Vatican II
Like many Catholic churches built during the early 1970s, St. Thomas Becket reflected the architectural and liturgical changes that followed the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II).
The sanctuary emphasized openness and visibility, allowing worshippers to participate more fully in the celebration of the Mass.
Large geometric stained-glass windows filled the interior with natural light, while the prominent cross suspended above the sanctuary became the focal point of the worship space.
The clean architectural lines and contemporary appearance distinguished the church from many older Gothic-style Catholic churches throughout Connecticut.
A Growing Community
The dedication came during a period of remarkable growth for Cheshire.
New neighborhoods were expanding southward, bringing young families into town at an unprecedented pace.
Schools were growing.
New churches were being established.
Town leaders were planning parks, recreation facilities, and preservation projects—including the acquisition of the historic Farmington Canal Lock, celebrated the very same day elsewhere in town.
Together, the events illustrated a community balancing growth with a desire to preserve both its heritage and its sense of community.
More Than a Building
The October 4, 1973 edition of The Cheshire Herald featured several photographs documenting the historic occasion.
Among them were:
Archbishop Whealon blessing the new church.
The modern exterior of the North Brooksvale Road building.
A packed sanctuary filled with parishioners.
A procession of clergy entering the church.
A portrait of Father Kenneth Frisbie accompanying his reflections on the parish's achievement.
The photographs captured not only the architecture but also the excitement surrounding the dedication of a church that many families had helped build from the ground up.
A Lasting Presence
More than fifty years later, St. Thomas Becket Parish remains an important part of Cheshire's religious and civic life.
Thousands of baptisms, weddings, funerals, First Communions, Confirmations, and community events have taken place within the same sanctuary dedicated by Archbishop Whealon in 1973.
For many longtime residents, the dedication remains a vivid memory of an era when Cheshire was rapidly changing, yet still maintained the close-knit community spirit that continues to define the town today.
Editor's Note
This article is based on reporting and photographs published in The Cheshire Herald on September 20, 1973, and October 4, 1973. The dedication of St. Thomas Becket Church occurred on the same weekend as Cheshire's celebration of the acquisition of the historic Farmington Canal Lock property on Brooksvale Road—two events that together reflected a community investing both in its future and in preserving its past. For many residents who attended one or both celebrations, the final weekend of September 1973 remains one of the most memorable in Cheshire's modern history.
Special Editor's Note: In doing research for an article on the History of St. Thomas Becket in Cheshire, I found everything about it is gone. I knew I should have taking the scrape books and down loaded the face book photo's, but I never thought it's complete history would be erased. I will research articles in the Cheshire Herald, but would appreciate anything you can send me. My two videos are in the public domain and you free to download them for your own use. The third one is Ron Gagliardi's and has a Creative Commons license.
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