About St. Patrick Church · Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
St. Patrick Church is a Catholic mission church on the New Hampshire seacoast, located at 5 Williams Street in the heart of Hampton Beach. As a mission (not a parish) of the Diocese of Manchester, it operates seasonally, offering Mass from mid-May through Columbus Day for summer visitors and beachgoers. The chapel is led by Very Rev. Jason Y. Jalbert, Rector, and depends entirely on the generosity of summer visitors for its support, as no offertory basket is passed during Mass. Because it is a mission church, baptisms and weddings are not celebrated on-site, but the priests help direct faithful to neighboring Catholic parishes.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jason Y. Jalbert
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
St. Patrick is a beloved summer mission church that lets visitors and locals keep Sunday Mass at the heart of their beach season. Its 5 Williams Street location puts Mass within a short walk of the boardwalk, and the church supports a lively summer schedule — including weekday Masses from late June through Labor Day — along with the Blessing of the Water on the Solemnity of the Assumption. Because giving is voluntary (no offertory basket is passed), visitors are invited to support the mission online, by text, or in the giving boxes at the church entrances.
Mass times at St. Patrick Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Anytime on request — ask a priest after Mass
History of St. Patrick Church
St. Patrick's Hampton Beach was first organized as a mission of St. Michael's Church in Exeter in 1907. Construction of the church at Hampton Beach began in 1914 and the building was dedicated in the spring of 1917, when the community became a mission of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Manchester. The first rector was the Reverend P.J. Scott. As the resident Catholic population grew, winter services were added in the late 1920s (held in the community hall above the Hampton Beach Fire Department), and in 1936–1937 a heated side chapel was added that pushed seating to 1,070. By 1949 the year-round Catholic population was large enough to warrant its own permanent church — Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Lafayette Road — and St. Patrick's reverted to its original calling as a summer seaside mission, which is what it remains today.
Mission Church Status
St. Patrick is a mission of the Diocese of Manchester, not a parish. That status shapes the experience of worship here: Masses are celebrated seasonally (mid-May through Columbus Day) for summer visitors and beachgoers. Because it is a mission rather than a parish, the church cannot celebrate baptisms or weddings, but the priests are glad to help visitors locate a nearby Catholic parish that can. Mass intentions are available — visitors can arrange them with the celebrant after Mass.
Clergy & Diocese
St. Patrick Church is staffed and led by Very Rev. Jason Y. Jalbert, Rector, and is a mission of the Diocese of Manchester (Seacoast Deanery, Rockingham County). The official diocesan directory lists its office at Church Street (Route 101 West), Hampton, NH 03842-2722, with the rectory at 5 Williams Street.
- Rector: Very Rev. Jason Y. Jalbert
- Diocese: Diocese of Manchester (NH)
- Deanery: Seacoast
Supporting the Mission
Because no offertory basket is passed during Mass, the mission depends entirely on the generosity of its summer visitors. Supporters can give online through the church's website, drop a gift in the giving boxes at the church entrances, or text to give at (603) 825-6678.
- Online giving via the church website
- Giving boxes at the church entrances
- Text to give: 603-825-6678
About the Catholic Faith
In addition to parish-specific information, the St. Patrick's website includes pages introducing the Catholic Church, its beliefs, and the Precepts of the Church — a useful primer for visitors and vacationers who may be unfamiliar with Catholic practice and want to understand the basics before joining in worship at the beach.
- What is the Catholic Church?
- We Are the Church — community and mission
- Beliefs of the Catholic Church
- Essentials — including the Precepts of the Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. P.J. Scott1917-1921
First rector of the Hampton Mission after the church was dedicated in the spring of 1917.
- Right Rev. Jeremiah S. Buckley1921-1928
Succeeded Fr. Scott as rector.
- Right Rev. Edward A. Clark1928-
Succeeded Fr. Buckley as rector; oversaw addition of heated chapel in 1937 and winter Masses in the community hall above the fire station.