St. Thomas, Gassaway

The following Church is incorporated into St. Thomas Parish, Gassaway: The territory of Risen Lord Parish, Clay, is merged into the territory of St. Thomas Parish, Gassaway, with the former Parish becoming a Mission of St. Thomas Parish effective November 26, 2017.

St. Thomas Parish was established as a mission in 1908. The church was a gift of industrialist Mr. Richard Kerens in memory of his father. Mr. Kerens chose Gassaway believing the town was destined to become a business hub in central West Virginia with the arrival of the railroad. Most of the Irish and Italian laborers who built the railroad, however, left the area when it was completed. The few Catholics that remained had to persuade the bishop to keep the church open. Marist Fathers from Richwood served the community until 1973 when it became an independent parish. The parish's first women religious arrived in 1977 when the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur sent two sisters.