The Forestelle Chalice

In 1743 the Connecticut General Assembly, the colony’s governing body, expressly denied tolerance to Roman Catholics.
Catholicism came late to the Northwest Corner.
The Irish Potato Famine and the construction of the Housatonic Railway brought an influx of Catholics.

Up until 1882 Catholic priests, married couples baptized babies and said Mass in private homes.
The area around Brick School was home to many Irish Catholic families.
This chalice was used in the Forestville home by priests attending to the spiritual needs of Warren’s Catholics.
In 1890 William Forestelle became the first Catholic First Selectman of Warren.