About St. Thomas More · Durham, New Hampshire
The Church of St. Thomas More is a Roman Catholic parish in Durham, New Hampshire, established on July 19, 1947 by Bishop Matthew F. Brady of the Diocese of Manchester to serve Catholic families in Durham, Lee, and Madbury, as well as students at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). With nearly 600 registered families, it is the cornerstone Catholic community for the Seacoast region and home to the UNH Catholic chaplaincy and Catholic Student Organization. The parish is located at 6 Madbury Road, just steps from the UNH campus, and is led by Rev. Andrew W. Cryans, pastor and Catholic chaplain, with a full pastoral team supporting parish life, campus ministry, faith formation, and outreach.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Thomas More
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew W. Cryans
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire)
Why belong here
St. Thomas More is the spiritual home of nearly 600 families across Durham, Lee, Madbury, Barrington, Dover, and Newmarket, and the Catholic home for UNH students and faculty. Mass is offered seven times a week, with a Sunday evening UNH Student Mass during the academic year, plus Friday Eucharistic Adoration and Saturday confession. The parish pairs genuine liturgical and catechetical life — RCIA (OCIA), faith formation K–8, adult formation retreats, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, and a robust campus ministry — with concrete outreach: a weekly food pantry, holiday food baskets, the Good SAMS meal program for the infirm, Prison Ministry, and the long-running Honduras mission and Project Eden.
Mass times at St. Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Friday 7:00–8:00 pm (in the church)
Parish Identity & Mission
The Catholic Community of Saint Thomas More, called by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, commits itself to worshiping as one Body, proclaiming the Gospel in word and action, and serving the surrounding Seacoast communities. Founded in 1947 and now numbering nearly 600 registered families, the parish defines itself as a community of parish and university ministry serving Durham, Lee, Madbury, Barrington, Dover, and Newmarket, alongside Catholic students at the University of New Hampshire.
- Parish Mission Statement
- A Community of Parish and University Ministry
- Nearly 600 registered families
- Member of the Seacoast Deanery, Diocese of Manchester
History
From a 1928 mission under St. Mary's Parish in Newmarket, with Mass said by a curate who rode the steam train to Durham and walked to New Hampshire Hall, the community grew alongside UNH after World War II. Bishop Matthew F. Brady established St. Thomas More as a parish on July 19, 1947; the present church was dedicated on May 21, 1950; the rectory was built in 1957; and the Catholic Student Center, completed in 1962, cemented the parish's twin parish-and-university identity. The community has navigated Vatican II, the Vietnam era, and successive waves of UNH students while building enduring service ministries in Honduras and at home.
- Mission founded 1928 under St. Mary's, Newmarket
- Established as a parish July 19, 1947
- First pastor: Rev. J. Desmond O'Connor (1947–1966)
- Church dedicated May 21, 1950; Catholic Student Center completed 1962
- Historian: parish history researched and written by Dot Meneghin (2009)
Worship Schedule
Mass is celebrated seven days a week at St. Thomas More, with a 5:00 pm Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses (including a UNH Student Mass during the academic year), and 12:10 pm weekday Mass Monday through Wednesday. The parish also offers weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Friday evenings and Saturday confession before the Vigil Mass.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:00 am, 11:15 am, and 5:00 pm (UNH Student Mass, when UNH is in session)
- Weekday Mass: 12:10 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
- Holy Days: 12:10 pm and 7:00 pm
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00–4:30 pm or by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 7:00–8:00 pm
Sacraments
The parish offers the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church, with preparation programs for children, youth, and adults. Arrangements are coordinated through the parish office at 603-868-2666.
- Reconciliation (Saturday and by appointment)
- Baptism (class registration through the office)
- Marriage (six months advance notice)
- Anointing of the Sick (call anytime)
- OCIA / RCIA (Inquiries and Reception into the Catholic Faith)
- First Communion, First Reconciliation, and Youth Confirmation
Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Thomas More serves parishioners from kindergarten through adulthood, anchored by the parish's long-running tradition of religious education that began under Mrs. Helen Gorman in the 1950s and continues today with programs for every age and stage.
- Faith Formation Classes K–5
- Middle School Youth Ministry (Grades 6–8)
- High School Youth Ministry
- Adult Faith Formation
- LIFE — Living In Faith Everyday
- OCIA / RCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Scripture / Reflection group
- Seasonal retreats
Campus Ministry at UNH
St. Thomas More has served Catholic students at the University of New Hampshire since its founding, with a Catholic chaplain, a dedicated Catholic Student Center on campus, and a vibrant Catholic Student Organization. A 5:00 pm Sunday Mass is celebrated during the academic year specifically for the UNH community, alongside ongoing faith formation, retreats, and service trips.
- Catholic Student Organization (CSO)
- 5:00 pm Sunday Student Mass (when UNH in session)
- Retreats and faith formation for students
- Service trips: Honduras (Alternative Spring Break), Nazareth Farm (West Virginia)
- Campus Minister: Derick Alexandre ([email protected])
Outreach & Service
Outreach is woven into the parish's identity. The community runs a weekly food pantry that in February 2026 alone served 313 patrons from nine towns, prepares holiday food baskets at Easter and Christmas, brings Holy Communion to the homebound, and supports mission work abroad.
- St. Thomas More Food Pantry (Thursday 4–6 pm)
- Holiday Food Baskets (Easter ham dinner, Christmas)
- Good SAMS prepared meals for the infirm
- Eucharistic Ministers visiting shut-ins and the elderly
- Prison Ministry
- Honduras Mission / Project Eden (San Francisco de la Paz)
- International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC) monthly packing
- Nazareth Farm (rural West Virginia) home-repair trips
- CityReach and Crossroads House (homelessness outreach)
- Support for NH Catholic Charities
Prayer & Devotions
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish maintains steady devotional life through weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, scripture and reflection groups, and seasonal prayer retreats. The Prayer Shawl Ministry, founded in 2006, blesses shawls, baptismal blankets, comforters, and newborn caps for those facing illness, distress, or grief.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Fridays 7:00–8:00 pm
- Prayer Shawl Ministry (since 2006)
- Scripture / Reflection group
- Seasonal prayer retreats
- Bereavement Ministry
- Stations of the Cross (Lent)
Stewardship & Care for Creation
The Stewardship Commission organizes parish giving, the annual Yard Sale (a major fundraiser), the Christmas Faire Extraordinaire, and a Care for Creation ministry that promotes the St. Francis Pledge, the teachings of Laudato Si', and education on climate change and its impact on the poor and on human health.
- Parish Finance Council (Ron Marnicio, chair)
- Annual Yard Sale — reportedly the state's largest
- Christmas Faire Extraordinaire
- Care for Creation / St. Francis Pledge
- Laudato Si' resources, articles, and events
- Statements from the Vatican and Pontifical Academy
- Climate crisis, poverty, and human health education
Contact & Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the office by phone, fax, email, or in person during the posted office hours. Sunday bulletins are posted on the parish website, and registration for the parish can be completed online or by phone.
- Address: 6 Madbury Road, PO Box 620, Durham, NH 03824-0620
- Phone: (603) 868-2666 — Fax: (603) 868-3765
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu 9:00 am–3:00 pm; Wed 9:00 am–1:00 pm; closed Fri
- Sunday bulletins available on stmdurham.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. Desmond O'Connor1947–1966
First pastor; founding Newman Club chaplain at UNH; named the parish; elected President of National Newman Club Chaplains 1951–1952; built the church (1949–50), rectory (1957), and Catholic Student Center (1962). Transferred to Laconia in 1966.
- Rev. Vincent Lawless1966–
Appointed Catholic Chaplain of UNH and Parish Administrator by Bishop Ernest J. Primeau; led the parish through Vatican II reforms; recruited Sisters Francesca D. and Marie Richard, R.S.M., among the first women in U.S. campus ministry.
- Father St. LaurentReturned to Honduras July 2006
Returned to missionary work in Honduras; succeeded by Father Cryans.
- Rev. Andrew W. CryansJuly 2006–present
Littleton, N.H., native and Fordham graduate; sent by Bishop McCormack; also serves as Catholic Chaplain at UNH; launched the Renovation and Beautification Project.