Archbishop Thomas Donnellan has officially dedicated Hartwell’s new Sacred Heart Church and parish hall. The new church, which seats approximately 250, replaces the old one which was a converted farmhouse seating about 70 people.

A Catholic community has existed in Hart County ever since the end of the 19^th century when Catholic immigrants moved here from Czechoslovakia. Even today a large number of the parishioners are descendants from the Doker, Kotal, and Sokol families that made up the first community. In the early years of the century, these families would travel to Anderson, South Carolina, several times each year to attend Mass. Later a priest from Greenville would come to Hartwell and offer Mass in the homes of the different Catholic families several times a year.

In the late 1940’s Father Walter Donovan started coming up to Hartwell each Sunday from Athens to offer Mass with the people. Later priests from Washington and Elberton served the Catholic community.

In 1954 the old church and property around it were purchased; the location of the church is approximately two miles south of the center of Hartwell on Georgia Highway 77. In 1964, Father Joseph Drohan, the pastor of St. Mary’s in Toccoa, was placed in charge of the Catholic community in Hartwell. He was succeeded by Father Patrick Padden in 1971. Father Ray Horan became pastor in 1974 and oversaw the construction of the new church and parish hall. Father Horan was succeeded by Father Patrick McCormick in September of this year.

The church at the present time has approximately 125 parishioners. In the summer the number increases due to the tourist population around Lake Hartwell at that time.

Immediately following the dedication Mass all of the priests and people present enjoyed a real country church dinner with all the trimmings.