The history of the Amboy parish dates back to October 1853 when Father Mark Anthony, CM came north from the Vincentian parish in LaSalle and offered the first Mass in this area in the log cabin of Michael Egan; forty or fifty Catholics were present. For the next few years priests would come intermittently to offer Mass for the people. With the coming of the railroad in 1854 the town of Amboy was begun and with it came an influx of Irish Catholic laborers and farmers.

In 1856 Father Bray arrived and became the first resident pastor of Amboy.
The people gathered around him weekly to worship and the parish of St. Patricks was born.

Land was purchased at Mason Avenue and Center Street (now Kellen Drive) on the northeast corner. The following year construction of a wooden church was begun. It was hoped that it would be ready for Mass on Christmas Day but on December 3, 1857 it caught fire and burned to the ground.

After the fire, Mass was held regularly in the Exchange Building until Father John Vahey arrived in 1858 and encouraged the people to consider building again. They seemed enthusiastic about the idea and plans were drawn up to build a frame building 70 feet long by 32 feet wide. By the spring of 1859 the building was in use. Feeling his mission was complete Father Vahey moved on.

Father M.J. Clarke then arrived and stayed for nine years. During this time, with the Civil War raging, he baptized more than 400 people and performed over 100 marriages.

Spending $600 from the parish funds Father Clarke purchased 6 ¾ acres on Rocky Ford Road for a cemetery. A new iron fence was placed in the front in 1892.

The church, which was by now unable to house all its members, was enlarged. Nevertheless when the Bishop came from Chicago to administer the rite of confirmation on 410 people he declared the building to be dangerously small. By this time (1872) the final spike of the CB & O Railroad had been driven and with two railroads coming through the town the membership was rapidly growing with an additional 50 being baptized in the church.

The first Mass in our present structure, located at 32 North Jones Avenue, was said on Christmas Day 1885 with the Rev. Francis A. Keegan as its pastor. The cost to build this lovely brick church was $20,000. In 1891 the church was lit with 25 electric lights.

It seems the Women’s Organization of the parish held an annual festival in the Amboy Opera House. One year someone else had reserved “the date” and the ladies were told they could not have use of the building. When the current priest, a tall strong Irish man named Father Joseph Gallagher heard the news, he decided they would build their own hall and so in 1902 the present church hall was erected.

Father T.J. Cullen, who was thought of as a very kindly man, was sent to Amboy shortly after his ordination and served, at first, as an assistant. While serving the parish he saw to the construction of a large brick rectory, at a cost of $10,000. It is located just south of the church, where the parish priests have been residing since 1915.

Concerned about the young children being well-instructed in their faith, Father Cullen began the construction of St. Anne’s School, which was dedicated on September 3, 1923 at a cost to the parishioners of $45,000. At this time the convent, the former Amboy Hotel, was also dedicated. On the second floor of the convent a chapel, which would seat about 30 people was installed. The altar, pews, lighting and decorations harmonized in such a manner that one felt immediately that here was a soothing spiritual place in which to worship.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame from Milwaukee were invited to come to Amboy to staff the elementary school and they did so for almost 50 years, educating thousands of students who are today grateful for their instruction, guidance and encouragement.

In 1925 the prevalence of scarlet fever caused the entire school to be closed for one week.

The enrollment in 1951 was 132 students with an enrollment at Central School of 275.

In 1953 the St. Anne grade school Basketeers staged their first annual father-son game. The proceeds of the game were to be used for the purchase of uniforms for the St. Anne Five.

When Fr. Cullen’s health began to fail he retired to Aurora at which time Fr. M.A. Kissane was appointed administrator of the parish and remained for 10 months until Fr. Robert C. Troy was appointed pastor in July of 1929.

The true memorial to Fr. Troy is the deep faith of the people of the parish. For 37 years he worked to plant and nourish that faith. Fr. Troy was preparing to attend a funeral when he suffered a heart attack in the hallway of the rectory and died almost immediately on February 26, 1966. Fr. Thomas Dzielak, his associate anointed him and made the funeral arrangements.