During the early years of Spring Valley’s history, Mass was said in the homes of various parishioners, most often in the D.A. Sullivan home. Mr. Sullivan was very active in trying to organize a parish in Spring Valley. Father Edward Essing came to Spring Valley from Chatfield to say Mass in the homes as early as 1868.
The first Catholic Church was constructed of brick and located on West High Street in Spring Valley. It was built in 1873, and is now a private residence.
The second church was built on the location of the present church on 213 Franklin Street West in 1878. The new building was made of brick and was 42 by 22 feet with a 16 foot ceiling. It was built by the Anderson Lumber Company and cost approximately $1,200. The population of Spring Valley at that time was about 1200, and there were very few Catholics among the inhabitants. Father William Riordan officiated at the first Mass on December 13, 1878, in this new church.
Father Michael Smyth was the first resident pastor. Father Leo Gossman was pastor from 1897 to 1906. During his pastorate a rectory was built and various organizations were formed. St. Patrick Parish in LeRoy and St. Finbarr Parish in Grand Meadow were mission parishes for Father Gossman. Traveling to these places, especially in winter and spring, were hardships. A newspaper clipping noted that in 1899 on Christmas Day, Father Gossman drove across the country roads and said Mass in LeRoy, then drove to Spring Valley for Mass, and then took the train to Grand Meadow to say the third Mass. At the turn of the century, the 1900 census indicated there were 27 Catholic families in Spring Valley.
An addition to the church was built in the early 1980s. This included living quarters for our pastor, six classrooms, a gathering place, and a church dining hall. The old rectory was torn down. Saint Ignatius Parish now includes 177 families, many who came from the former Saint Kilian Parish in Wykoff after that church closed in the early 2000s. For the past 20 years or so, as it was in 1899, Saint Ignatius, Saint Patrick, and Saint Finbarr Parishes are all served by one priest.
Pastors who have served Spring Valley are: Fathers Edward Essing, James Halton, William Riordan, Michael Manley, Michael Smyth, Patrick O’Dwyer, Patrick McTeague, J. Mattson, Michael Halper, Leo Gossman, Alois Gmeinder, Patrick McCusker, Joseph Collins, Philip Matthews, Ambrose Layne, Earl Byron, Thomas Duane, Cyril Peterson, Lawrence Ginther, Sherlock Weir, John Vincent, Edgar Schaeffer, Russ Scepaniak, Steve Peterson, Marreddy Pothireddy, and currently Father Gregory Parrott.