About St. Agnes · Leicester, Vermont
St. Agnes Church in Leicester, Vermont, was a historic parish serving farming communities in the region since its founding in 1881. After 140 years of service, the church closed its doors permanently in October 2021 following a community-led decision to mark the closure with a final Mass and fellowship event. The church, once a mission of St. Paul Church in Orwell and later of Our Lady of Good Help Church in Brandon, was known for its deep spiritual roots and close-knit parishioner community. Though the building is no longer active, its legacy lives on through the memories and ministries carried forward by its members into other local parishes.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- St. Agnes
- Rector
- Father Maurice Moreau, OFM Cap
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Why belong here
Parishioners describe St. Agnes as a spiritual home where generations have gathered for baptisms, weddings, and funerals. The community is deeply personal — members refer to each other as family and say the church was a place of spiritual uplift and belonging. Even as the church closed, parishioners emphasized the continuity of faith, welcoming others into new communities while carrying forward the memories and holiness formed in the church.
History
St. Agnes Church was built in 1881 to serve farming communities in Leicester and Whiting. It was originally a mission of St. Paul Church in Orwell and later became a mission of Our Lady of Good Help Church in Brandon. The church was closed for six months annually in recent years, reopening only for Christmas Eve Mass and May–October Masses. With dwindling membership — from 66 families in the 1960s to at most a dozen active families — parishioners voted to close the church in their own way, culminating in a poignant final Mass on October 23, 2021, coinciding with the 140th anniversary of the cornerstone laying. The church’s closure was marked by a potluck dinner and the distribution of sacred items to other parishes.
Final Mass and Closure
The final Mass was held on October 23, 2021, chosen to coincide with the 140th anniversary of the cornerstone laying. The church was closed for six months annually in recent years, reopening only for Christmas Eve Mass and May–October Masses. The closure was community-led, with parishioners deciding to mark the occasion with fellowship and the distribution of sacred items to other parishes. The church’s closure was described as emotionally painful by the pastor and parishioners, who emphasized the deep spiritual roots and memories formed in the church.
Sacred Items Distributed
During the final Mass, parishioners were given special gifts from the church to hold for safekeeping or to deliver to a new home. These included the U.S. flag, collection baskets, a clock, an icon of St. Agnes, a lectionary, Mass linens, flowers, altar candles, sacred vessels, and the crucifix. These items were distributed to Our Lady of Good Help Church in Brandon and other local parishes.