About Our History
Fr. William P. Ryan History
Pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church 1939 -1951 then from 1968 – 1971
St. Ann Church was born out of the desire of a small group of African American Catholics in Fayetteville to practice their faith without the constraints of the social prejudices of their time. The yearning for a church of their own can be traced back as early as the spring of 1920 when a letter was written to Bishop Leo Haid, leader of the Apostolic Vicariate (later the Diocese of Raleigh).
Fourteen years after posting this letter, three African American families met for the first time in the home of Mrs. Claudia Cameron on Sunday afternoon, June 24, 1934. The group, consisting of eight Catholics, formed the Fayetteville unit of the Colored Catholic League of North Carolina. Serving as spiritual advisors, Fathers Noonan and Sullivan from St. Patrick Church initially helped guide the group. These eight founding members were: Claudia Cameron, Joseph L. Cameron, Alice Evans, Frank McKay, Annie McKay, Helen McKay, William Montgomery, and Eleanor Murphy. Soon, Father William P. Ryan, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate from South Boston, Massachusetts would arrive in Fayetteville to lead these founding members in their quest for a church of their own.
It was October 28, 1939, when Father Ryan reached the group. This date also coincided with the Feast of St. Jude, Patron Saint of the Hopeless. While “hopeless” certainly seemed to describe his mission, Father Ryan got to work immediately. Just three days after his arrival on November 1st, Father Ryan met with his new parishioners in the home of Mrs. Cameron. With a novena of St. Jude as their backdrop, Father Ryan and the founders of St. Ann continued to meet. Detailed notes that have survived to this day were taken at each meeting. It was December 24, 1939 before the first Mass was celebrated.
With special permission from the bishop, the first Mass of St. Ann was held on December 24, 1939 in Mack’s Barber Shop, owned by church member Mr. Frank McKay. To realize their dream of a church of their own, this special group of Catholics needed money. Through contributions from many parishes throughout the United States, as well as friends of Father Ryan, the church would soon be a reality. From the Most Reverend Richard J. Cushing, D.D., Director of the Boston Society for
the Propagation of the Faith, came a gift of $4,500 by way of a memorial fund given by the parishioners of St. Anne Parish of Neponset, Mass. in memory of their late curate, Reverend John Hennessy of Boston. It was this gift that prompted the small Fayetteville group to name their church St. Ann.
Construction of the new church began in August 1940 and was completed in December of the same year at a cost of about $15,000. During the building period, it is said that Father Ryan was displeased with the shoddy construction; therefore, he took a sledgehammer to the new walls, telling the contractor to “build it correctly!” The church was dedicated on December 22, 1940, by Bishop Eugene J. McGuiness of the Raleigh Diocese. This was a happy and spirit-filled time.
Throughout the 1940s and 50s, parishioners also worked with the National Catholic Community Service. This work was guided by Father Ryan, who served as moderator of the club. Bishop Waters and Reverend Eugene Bergstrom, O.M.I. also helped.
In the early 1950s there was the belief that a parish school could serve parishioners and the local community. These were the days of segregation in the south, yet, St. Ann School opened as an integrated place of learning for both black boys and girls and the children of many white Catholic military families from nearby Ft. Bragg. The parents of these children maintained that they cared more about a Catholic education for their children than they did about the culture of that time.
The Saint Ann Parish School opened September 4, 1956. On the first day of school, 102 students reported and by year’s end, the enrollment had risen to 142. The first teachers were the Sisters of Providence, from St. Mary-of-the-Woods Indiana, with Sister Marie Stephanie as principal.
Father Ryan left St. Ann in 1951 and returned as pastor in 1968. By this time, the parish of St. Ann had grown to over 300 Catholics.
Due to illness, Father Ryan ended his stay in 1971.