About Holy Rosary · Springfield, Kentucky
Holy Rosary Catholic Church is a rural mission parish in the small Washington County, Kentucky community of Manton (also historically known as Blincoe), where Hardin's Creek empties into the Beech Fork River. Founded in 1844 under the direction of the Dominicans of St. Rose Priory, the brick church was blessed in 1848 and is still in use today as a mission of Holy Trinity Church in Fredericktown. Despite a registered count of about 72 households, Holy Rosary still serves as the spiritual home for descendants of the original Catholic families who settled this little valley, offering Sunday Mass, daily Mass twice a week, and the sacramental and social life of a close-knit country parish — including a parish hall, a historic graveyard, and beloved events like the Manton Music Jamboree and annual chili cook-off.
- Established
- 1844
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (formal dedication: Church of Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary)
- Rector
- Rev. Augustine Judd, O.P.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Louisville)
Why belong here
Holy Rosary is a small, centuries-old rural Catholic mission where generations of the same farming families still worship together — a true 'quiet, simple, country place to worship' deep in Washington County, Kentucky. Visitors are welcomed to Sunday Mass and to share in parish traditions like the Manton Music Jamboree and the fall chili cook-off; the parish also offers faith formation for grades 1–8, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, and a wide range of lay ministries for anyone wanting to pitch in. If you are passing through the Beech Fork valley, looking for a historic country parish to belong to, or hoping to deepen your Catholic faith in a tightly-knit community, Holy Rosary is a welcoming place to call home.
Mass times at Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:45 p.m. (heard at Holy Trinity, Fredericktown)
- Anytime by request
Adoration times
- First Sundays — after 8:30 a.m. Mass
Parish History
The Dominicans of St. Rose Priory established Holy Rosary Church in 1844 at Blincoe — the village now known as Manton — in Washington County, Kentucky. The cornerstone was laid November 2, 1844, and the present brick church was blessed on November 19, 1848. Originally a mission of St. Rose served by Dominican priests, the parish became a mission of Holy Cross in 1866 (Fathers Patrick Fount and Edward Lynch) and in 1883 was reassigned as a mission of Holy Trinity in Fredericktown, with Father William M. Buckman as its first pastor in that arrangement. The mission has continued in that role for more than 140 years, drawing descendants of the original Catholic valley families and newer arrivals to a small, rural, very personal worshipping community. The original 1848 church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 10, 1989.
- 1844: cornerstone laid (Nov. 2)
- 1848: brick church blessed (Nov. 19)
- 1866: becomes mission of Holy Cross
- 1883: becomes mission of Holy Trinity, Fredericktown
- 1917–1918: parish graveyard established
- Late 1970s: Manton schoolhouse purchased and converted into Manton Hall
- 1989: added to the National Register of Historic Places
Architecture & Historic Building
The church is a modest mid-19th-century brick building measuring 20 by 60 feet on a rectangular nave plan, with four jack-arch-headed windows in each side wall. The principal (front) facade is laid in Flemish bond, the brickwork pattern typical of first-half-of-19th-century Kentucky construction. The original double front entries have been replaced by a single central door, and a frame rectory abuts the rear corner beside the polygonal apse. The well-maintained building is part of the Washington County Multiple Resource Area and is recognized for its historic significance.
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Rosary is served by a Dominican (Order of Preachers) pastor in the long Dominican tradition of central Kentucky Catholic missions. The current pastor is Rev. Augustine Judd, O.P. Day-to-day operations are handled by a small lay staff, with religious education and liturgy coordinated through the parish office. (Note: parish mailing address is different from the physical location — mail is routed through the Fredericktown address listed on the archdiocesan directory.)
- Pastor: Rev. Augustine Judd, O.P.
- Director of Religious Education and Liturgy: Judy Gordon
- Secretary: Erin McCarty
- Bookkeeper: Marda Weakley
Parish Life & Annual Events
A small rural parish lives by its gatherings, and Manton Hall — converted from the old Manton schoolhouse in the late 1970s — is the parish's social heart. The hall hosts reunions, the spring pancake breakfast, the fall chili supper and cook-off, and the well-known annual Manton Music Jamboree (a featured fundraiser). The parish bulletin and parish calendar are the best sources for current dates and Mass intentions.
- Manton Music Jamboree (annual parish fundraiser)
- Fall Chili Cook-Off / chili supper
- Spring pancake breakfast
- Family reunions hosted in Manton Hall
- Weekly bulletin and parish calendar published regularly
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Holy Rosary serves children and adults of the parish, with religious education classes for Grades 1–8, First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation, and Confirmation preparation. The parish also subscribes to FORMED, an online Catholic formation library, so parishioners can deepen their faith at home. Registration for the 2025–2026 religious education year is available through the parish website.
- Religious Education Classes: Grades 1–8
- Sacrament Preparation for First Communion & First Penance
- Confirmation Preparation
- FORMED online formation library
Parish Ministries & Lay Service
Like many small country parishes, Holy Rosary depends on its lay ministries to keep the Mass and grounds running beautifully. The parish page lists a wide range of service opportunities from the sanctuary (lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans, ushers, altar servers) to the grounds (flowers, offertory counters, linen care) and parish governance (Parish/Finance Council, Bereavement Committee). Volunteers are invited to prayerfully consider using their gifts, and to contact the parish office with ideas for new ministries.
- Altar Servers (Grades 3+)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Lectors
- Sacristan
- Ushers
- Liturgical Linen Service
- Offertory Counters
- Flowers and Grounds
- Parish/Finance Council
- Bereavement Committee
- Youth Ministry (annual Manton Jam)
Visit & Contact
Holy Rosary is located at 6964 Cissellville Road, Manton (mailing address: c/o 306 Fredericktown Road, Springfield, KY 40069-9321). The parish office can be reached by phone at (859) 284-5242 (fax (859) 284-5224) or by email at [email protected]. The official website — holyrosarymanton.org — has pages on About, Parish Life, Ministries, Religious Education, Photos, and Contact, where visitors can find the latest bulletin, schedule, and contact information.
- Address: 6964 Cissellville Rd, Springfield, KY 40069
- Phone: (859) 284-5242
- Fax: (859) 284-5224
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.holyrosarymanton.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Julian Timoleum Pieters1844–?
One of the first pastors, serving under the Dominicans of St. Rose Priory in the mission's early years.
- Fr. Edward Lynch1866–1883
Stationed at Holy Cross while serving Holy Rosary as a diocesan priest during its mission-of-Holy-Cross period.
- Father William M. Buckmanfrom 1883
First pastor of Holy Rosary under its new arrangement as a mission of Holy Trinity, Fredericktown.
- Rev. Augustine Judd, O.P.present
Current pastor; a Dominican of the Province of St. Joseph.