According to early records, a little log church was built around the year 1878 by Father Fouquet, south of the present Town of Creston and near the banks of the Kootenay River. It is thought this may have been the church of the "Flat Bows" mentioned in early baptismal records and in the diaries of David Thompson. The small church named St. Peter's on the Lower Kootenay Reserve was built by Father Coccola in the later 1890's. This beautiful old church no longer stands.
The first Holy Cross Church in Creston was built under Father James Wagner's leadership in 1907 at the corner of Hillside Street and Victoria Avenue (now 10th Avenue). Before the church was built, 6-7 Catholic families would gather at the home of C.O. Rogers to celebrate Mass.
The Diocese of Nelson was established by 1936, and soon after, Holy Cross church was made a self-existing Parish. The first resident priest was Fr. Maurice J. Cooney from Winnipeg. His missions included Gray Creek, the Bayonne Mine, Sirdar, Wynndel, and Yahk.
During Fr. Cooney’s time as priest in Creston, the Parish was expanding to the point where a Parish Hall was needed. The Hall was built on 15th Avenue. However, by 1938, the capacity of the small church on Victoria Avenue was no longer enough, so under Fr. Fitzgerald, the hall became the new church.
In 1956, Fr. J.J. Morelli arrived in Creston. By now, the church had expanded so much, that having a second Mass on Sundays was not enough to relieve the overcrowding of the church. Assistant Pastor Fr. C. Mulvihill came in 1959, and a short time later, three acres off 16th Ave was purchased for the new church, with the help of a building fundraiser. The house on the property became a convent, where three Sisters of the Order of Our Lady of the Cross resided. These women would teach music, assisted with catechetical work, and performed other duties.
In June 1961, excavations began for the building of the new church, and in December, Bishop W.E. Doyle blessed the new Holy Cross Church at a Pontifical Mass.
Source: “Feed My Lambs: A History of Holy Cross Parish 1878-1986”. Wallace Printing & Publishing