A Brief History of St. Bartholomew Parish

Buechel , Kentucky

"In front of the rectory was a tiny front lawn but the rest of the acreage was one big weed bed with weeds so high they hid the mules that pulled the sickle when the land was cleared.”  (The Jefferson Reporter. September 15, 1966) Such were the conditions at the time when Fr. Bartholomew Beruatto came to Buechel Bank Road September 13, 1941 to begin the new parish Archbishop Floersh had approved in August.  At the age of thirty-six it was to be his second pastorate as well as the second church he would build. As the area began to develop during this time, the neighboring parishes of St. Francis of Assisi , St. Agnes, St. Edwards and Holy Family “contributed” members whose homes were within the established boundaries. In October, 1941, mass was held in the basement of the rectory on the present site.  The church/school was built by Dahlem Construction Company for $55,000 and was ready for classes September 11, 1942.  This building had the capacity to seat five hundred for Mass in the ground floor church. The second floor included two large classrooms and living quarters for the Ursuline sisters.  (In the beginning they were Sr. Agatha – superior; Sr. Charlesetta – housekeeper; and Sr. Eleanor who served the 90 students.) The third floor was unpartitioned and suitable for parish picnics and later additional classrooms.  By September 3, 1958 six more classroom had been added to the school and the number of teachers was seventeen.

Barth Hall also became a building which parish life centered around.  Once a pole barn for farm machinery, it became a pavilion for picnics and ice cream socials, the cafeteria for the school and then a parish hall.   The Men’s Club assumed responsibility for it in 1963, adding a kitchen, drop-ceiling, air-conditioning, new lights, paneling, new floor and additional rooms.  In 1951, Fr. Barth purchased the Busath property of 14 acres across the street and the sisters moved their convent there.

St. Bartholomew then began to contribute members to other new parishes: in 1953, St. Gabriel; in 1955, St. Barnabas; in 1963, St. Bernard and St. Ignatius along with a monetary gift of start-up money.

In 1959, a new church building was built and an anonymous donor had air conditioning installed in 1960.  In 1967, a new convent was built between the church and the school and the Busath property was sold for apartments.  In 1969, Fr. Raymond Hughes assumed the role of pastor of our fast growing parish and stayed in that capacity until 1979.  On March 2, 1978 an arsonist set fire to the church.  Paneling had to be replaced in the sanctuary and the interior of the church painted.  It was also during this time that a multi-purpose building was built and the parking was expanded.  Once called the gymnasium, the building has now been renamed, “ Magel Center ” after Fr. John Magel who served our parish from 1979 to 1987.  Fr. Terry Bradshaw became pastor in June 1987 and served the parish until June 1999.  Fr. Anthony Chandler took on the role as pastor in June 1999. In 1985, the first lay principal was selected – Mrs. Victoria Davis.  She served as the role of principal until June 1998.  (She is currently the eighth grade teacher and also instructs language arts and science for the junior high.)

St. Bartholomew School currently has an educational program for Pre-K through grade 8.  Students participate in liberal arts studies such as language arts, religion, math, science, social studies, art, computer, music, and Spanish.  The school also has an after school care program and summer care program.  Many students participate in programs such as Quick Recall, Book Bee, Louisville Visual Art Association Classes, School Choir, and CSAA sponsored sports programs.