St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church
In the late 19th century the Paul Smith’s area saw an rapid increase in the number of Catholic residents. The nearest Catholic church was in Bloomingdale, which was a nine-mile trip down some very rough roads. In 1896, St. Gabriel’s church was built on land donated by Paul Smith. Although it was beautifully renovated in 1996, the church was closed in 2003 by the Bishop of the Ogdensburg Diocese, despite the protests of its congregation..

Since its closure, the historic building has fallen into significant disrepair. As stated in the original deed, the property and building were to be returned to Paul Smith’s College ownership when religious services ended, but it took until 2020 for that to occur. The Paul Smith's College Sequel of 2020, just out in January 2021, posts a small photo of President Jon Strauss accepting the keys to St. Gabriel's church from Mr. Lee Keet, with this short note: "With thanks to Lee Keet and the Cloudsplitter Foundation, PSC has secured full legal title to  St. Gabriel's Church, the historic chapel located across the street from our campus entrance. Plans for student use of this remarkable building will be formulated once we complete a structural inspection."

From a letter to the editor of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 24, 2008:St. Gabriels interior, 2000

St. Gabriels exterior, 2018A stained-glass window in memory of my father, Hubert Gentry Crowley (who was married in the church in 1933 to Mary Estelle Whitney — my mother — of the Rainbow Lake Whitneys), is in the church, next to a window in memory of Ben Muncil, who was killed at the Rainbow Road railroad crossing.

My grandfather, Carl E. Whitney, was instrumental in getting a railroad overpass built at the crossing. My father died in 1940, in New York City, as did my grandfather, in Saranac Lake. I have talked with Father Tom at St. Bernard's about the future of the church — and the windows — and need your help!

Jack Crowley Bellevue, Wash.

"St. Gabriel" by Pat and Tom Willis, photo of display taken 2/2009.
Click on the image to enlarge the display. The following list is from The Brighton Story, page 84, by Geraldine Collins. "While it is not known who served the church in the very first years, the following have served since 1907, according to Gladys Blanchard's notes.

 

See also The Town of Brighton - Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church

Brighton History Days have been held one weekend each summer since 1994, sponsored by the Brighton Architectural Heritage Committee.

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