Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and
St. Peter's Catholic Church Histories
 

The Catholic Church has a long, rich history that dates to around 1919, when a small wooden framed church was built in the town of Ochiltree. Father Murphy of Dalhart had obtained a $500 grant from the Extension Society of the Catholic Church of Amarillo to build the church, which was erected just a few months before
the town of Ochiltree moved to Perryton. Shortly after the move, this first church building was sold, and a new one built on the Kollman farm in Oklahoma, just across the state line and due north of Booker. The early history of the church remains sketchy after this; however, it has been noted there was a group that met in the schoolhouse at Huntoon, where a priest from Borger conducted Mass once a month.
On September 9, 1946, Father Charles A. Knapp, then pastor at Borger, purchased property on the 900 block of Amherst. In 1948, the Spearman parish was established and sponsored Perryton as a mission, conducting Mass in the Sanford Hospital and various homes. In 1949, Bishop Laurence Fitzsimon gave permission to start construction of the first Catholic Church built in Perryton. The small framed church was built under the supervision of Father Bernard Binversie, then pastor of Spearman.
On Sept. 15, 1955, Father Binversie was transferred and Father Monroe J. Matthiesen was named as his successor. Perryton was still currently a mission of Spearman. Towards the end of this decade, Father Matthiesen drew plans for a new church in Perryton, and property was acquired at 15th and Jefferson. Father Matthiesen was moved to St. Mary's in Amarillo before he could realize his plans, and Father Gerard Lynch took his place. Plans were carried out for construction of the new $60,000 church building, which on September 14, 1960 was dedicated. The old church building was moved by the new to serve as a rectory.
In 1962, Father Edward Kieran was transferred to Spearman. In 1964, The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was established as a parish, and Father Kieran became Perryton's first resident pastor. St. Peter's Catholic Church in Booker was then established as a mission of Perryton.
The history of St. Peter’s Catholic Church originally located near Lakemp, OK, dates to 1908, where for several years, Mass was said in parishioners' homes. In 1912, the Catholic Extension Society donated $500 to build a church on Henry Wymiller's land, north of Bart Kollman's home.
It was around 1946, when Father Noel William ministered to parishes in three counties, that arrangements
were made to move the church near a paved highway near the Texas Oklahoma State line north of Booker. Here the church remained until the early 1960's, when Bishop Reedo of Oklahoma City gave permission for the church to be moved to Booker. The land was purchased by the Diocese of Amarillo, and the church was
moved October 1, 1963. Shortly thereafter, St. Peter's Catholic Church became a mission of Perryton.
In 1967 a new rectory was built in Perryton. Father Kieran was still pastor at this time and remained so until the following year when Father Bruce Riski took his place. Father Riski remained for two years, and when he left, Father Rusch from Spearman took over the duties of this parish until Father J. Hancox came in 1970. On November 30, 1974, Father Hancox died of a heart attack, and since there was a shortage of priests in the diocese, Bishop De Falco traveled to Perryton from Amarillo on weekends to say Mass. Father A. Manocheo came to administer for a short time in 1975, as did deacon Raymond Crosier, who later became priest and was assigned to the Amarillo diocese.
In 1976, Father J. Melton Silva arrived in Perryton from Amarillo to take up duties as pastor. He remained until January 1978, when Father Crosier became pastor. During Father Crosier's tenure, the Family Center was built through a grant of $15,000 from the Extension Society, farmland and funds raised by the people. A place in the church's growth goes in part to Miss Nora Condon, who through her giving of farmland, helped realize the church in Perryton, rectory and center. The Center was dedicated in 1980.
In June of 1985, Father Crosier was transferred and Father Brendan Sherry, a native of Ireland who spent 30 years in Australia, became pastor. Father Sherry stayed for a short term, and in 1986 was transferred, with Father Patrick Hoffman being named administrator.
Both the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and St. Peter's Catholic Church throughout their long histories have witnessed constant and continued growth. Today there are around 700 families who attend Spanish and English Mass in Perryton and Booker.