Rev. Patrick F. Sheridan
First Pastor of St. Michael's
(Photo from the church's 100th Anniversary book)

Rev. Arthur P. Haviland
     (ordained June 29, 1850)
     First Resident Pastor: 1850-1877
     Died: May 22, 1886

Rev. James Timmins
     (ordained July 6, 1871)
     Pastor: 1878-1911, 1917-1929
     Died: April 24, 1929

Rev. Joseph Timmins
     (ordained January 31, 1886)
     Pastor: 1911-1917
     Died: July 15, 1917

Rev. Edward F. X. Curran
     (ordained June 16, 1903)
     Pastor: 1929-1936
     Died: July 15, 1943

Rev. Joseph M. O'Hara, Ph.D.
     (ordained May 29, 1909)
     Pastor: 1936-1956
     Pastor Emeritus: 1956-1963
     Died: September 15, 1963

Rev. Msgr. Francis A. Higgins
     (ordained May 29, 1930)
     Pastor: 1963-1977
     Pastor Emeritus: 1977-1988
     Died: May 11, 1988

Rev. William J. Benonis
     (ordained May 10, 1952)
     Pastor 1977-1982
     Later Pastor of Notre Dame de Lourdes, Swarthmore, PA

Rev. Richard T. Powers
     (ordained May 18, 1963)
     Pastor: 1982-1983
     Later Pastor of Incarnation, Philadelphia, PA

Rev. Raymond J. Himsworth
     (ordained May 19, 1962)
     Pastor: 1983-1990
     Later Pastor of St. James, Elkins Park, PA

Rev. Michael J. Ryan
     (ordained May 20, 1972)
     Pastor: 1989-through the 150th anniversary in 1992

The Rev. John J. McKenna, assistant Rector until 1925
The Rev. David J. Kane, assistant Rector 1925-
The Rev. John F. Resch, assistant Rector 1949

2/7/2006:
Rev. Thomas J. Corrigan (Later Monsignor Thomas J. Corrigan) was ordained on May 22, 1937 - NOT 1940.
Thank you.
His Nephew,
Stephen Corrigan

Rev. Francis N. McDevitt, ordained 1941
Rev. James F. Soreth, ordained 1941
Rev. Paul J. Carey, ordained 1942
Rev. William Mooney, ordained 1943
Rev. Joseph F Sikora, ordained 1943
Rev. Arthur W. Nugent, ordained 1947
Rev. John F. Fahy, ordained 1948
Rev. James B. Sheridan, ordained 1950
Rev. George A. Gormley, ordained 1954
Rev. Joseph T. Kane, ordained 1962
Rev. Joseph J. Gallagher, ordained 1963
Rev. Gerald A. Kelleher, ordained 1963
Rev. James McCusker, ordained 1964

Rev. Bartholemew P. Fair, ordained 1940
     Professor, St. James High School

Rev. Francis M. Egan, ordained 1945
     Professor, St. James High School

Rev. Michael C. Picard ordained 1966
     Professor, Cardinal O'Hara High School

Rev. Michael J. Flood, ordained 1968
     Professor, Cardinal O'Hara High School

Louis J. Warfel, loujwarfel@juno.com, has transcribed the complete text of Rev. Joseph M. O'Hara, PH.D.'s Chester's Century of Catholicism 1842-1942 for us.  Please see that work for a more complete history of the first 100 years of St. Michael's church.

"The Catholic Church of "St. Michael the Archangel," at Chester, owes its foundation to a number of Irish Catholics employed in Judge Leiper’s quarries, who having no place of worship nearer than the church on Dennis Kelley’s property at Cobbs Creek, or James Willcox’s Chapel at "Ivy Mills," about nine miles distant, agreed among themselves to contribute towards the erection of a church building more convenient; and for the purpose of obtaining the aid of a Catholic Priest to organize a congregation among them, they applied to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Kendrick of Philadelphia, who appointed the Rev. Father Sheriden, now the venerable pastor of St. Paul’s Church in that city, to attend them. Under his direction and guidance, a lot was purchased in Chester for the purpose of erecting thereon a new church for their accommodation. The corner stone was laid Sept. 29, 1842, and on June 25, 1843, the church was dedicated to Almighty God, under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel, in the presence of a very large assembly from Philadelphia and the surrounding country. This structure is of stone from Leiper’s quarries on Crum Creek, of the Gothic style of architecture, 42 by 72 feet, with a square tower, and spire 100 feet high, surmounted by a gilt cross. In the tower is hung a fine toned bell, 1000 pounds in weight, which is rung twice a day. A sacristy, 12 by 22 feet, has been erected adjoining the church on the south side.

"A parsonage, 34 feet square and three stories high, was erected on the church lot by the present pastor, the Rev. Arthur Peter Haviland, who, with his assistant, the Rev. Hugh McGlinn, reside therein. An additional lot adjoining the church property, was purchased in 1866, and on it in 1871, was erected a parochial school-house, 60 by 24 feet, and two stories high, capable of accommodating 500 children. It is used for a Sunday School, with about 300 scholars in attendance, and as a day school for male and female children on separate floors, under the care of two teachers. The average attendance is 180 scholars. The expense of supporting both schools is defrayed by the congregation.

"The congregation of St. Michael’s when its first resident pastor, the Rev. Arthur P. Haviland, was appointed, July 12, 1850, numbered about 250; now, owing to the rapid increase of the population of Chester, it is somewhat more than 2000, for whose accommodation there are four services on Sunday, to be continued until a large church will be erected, for which arrangements are already made.

"Since writing the above, the old church edifice, so long a marked feature of Chester, has been torn down, and a more imposing, spacious and commodious building is in the course of erection on the site of the old structure, and is rapidly approaching completion. The corner stone of the new church was laid on Nov. 1, 1874, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Wood, with appropriate ceremonies. The cost of the new church will be about $70,000. The height of the tower from the ground, of stone, will be 96 ft., upon this there will be a wooden spire of 84 ft., making a total height of 180 feet. The length of the building will be 167 ft., breadth 67 ft. The basement has been finished and occupied for about two years (1877). The masonry and stonecutting of the new church are being done by Ramsden Rawnsley. The erection being made under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Haviland, the pastor.

..."Previous to the installation of the resident pastor, clergymen from Philadelphia officiated as temporary Missionaries at St. Michael’s, among whom may be mentioned Rev. Thaddeus Amat, the Principal of the Theological Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo, Philadelphia, now Bishop of Monterey, California; also, Rev. Dr. O’Hara, now Bishop of Scranton, Pa., the congregation being small and not able to support a resident pastor."

Chester (and its Vicinity,) Delaware County in PA – Published 1877 – John Hill Martin, Esq.
fully indexed by John A. Bullock III., Graphic Details Publications

The "Old St. Michael's Catholic Club" was founded in December 1947 in the club auditorium at 8th & Edgmont Ave.

Note: This building now houses the St. John A.U.M.P. Church

A good source of information would be:

PHILADELPHIA ARCHDIOCESEAN HISTORICAL RESEARCH CENTER
(610-667-2125)
FAX 610-667-2730
Thanks to David Andrews

"My great-great grandfather was one of the stone mason's that built St. Michael's Church.   He lost an eye from a stone chip while building the church."

Albert E. Warburton III