St. Francis de Sales Parish

Father David J. Halde, fifth pastor to St. John's, oversaw the construction of a new and larger church, St. Francis de Sales. In 1871, a lot on Elm Street was purchased from the Hon. John Ware. Due to the growth and development of the city, this site was viewed as a more central location for the new church. St. Francis de Sales was dedicated on June 14, 1874 by Bishop David C. Bacon, first bishop of the young Diocese of Portland. The congregation soon outgrew even this large worship site with a capacity of six hundred. Side galleries were added in 1888, which increased the capacity to one thousand. In 1888, the Ursuline sisters arrived to educate the local students and in 1928, the Brothers of Christian Instruction opened a school for boys.

St. Francis saw its first major renovation in 1941, and between 1964 and 1969 a second renovation was done. During this second renovation the side galleries were dismantled and the current windows, depicting the twelve apostles replaced the original stained glass windows.