St. Mary's Church

Address	796 Boston Rd
Built	1928

St. Mary's Church was the Roman Catholic church of Pinehurst, at 796 Boston Road on the east side of the road between Cook Street and Beaumont Avenue, with Covington Avenue behind it. It began as a mission chapel of the North Billerica parish, became a parish of its own in 1937, and was closed in 2021 after the three Billerica parishes were merged.

The land was part of the old Francis Carter farm in the southeast of the town. In 1893 Henry Sheldon and James T. Eames sold the western hundred acres of it, "and the dwelling house thereon", to Clara N. Wonson, and on September 13, 1910 she sold them to Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline, who laid the land out that month as Pinehurst Manor & Park View (H. A. Millhouse, Plan Book 27, Plan 95). The church lot is made of lots 229 to 246 of that plan, along what the deeds called the Lowell Road. The corner at Cook Street, "the road leading from Billerica to Wilmington", was not part of the Carter land: it was a two-acre piece of the old Sylvester E. Beard farm, which Grace Knight Babson, the wife of Roger W. Babson, sold to Alice M. McHugh of Woburn in August 1910.

In February 1914 Coughlin conveyed the unsold Pinehurst Manor lots to James E. Burke of Lexington as trustee. On September 3, 1914 Burke sold lots 230, 231 and 232 and part of lot 229, 25,674 square feet at the corner of Beaumont Avenue and the Lowell Road, to Charles Haughey of Billerica, and in November 1915 he sold lots 242 to 246 and the rest of lot 229 to Alice M. McHugh. After Haughey's death Thomas McHolland of Cambridge, who held the land under his will, sold the corner lots on March 22, 1917 to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston. This was the first land of the Pinehurst mission.

Before 1925 the Catholics of the new summer colony at Nuttings Lake came to Pinehurst for Sunday Mass. The church was built in 1928 as the Mission of St. Andrew (the assessor dates it to about 1925). The 1931 Lowell directory lists the "Pinehurst Mission Church, Boston rd, Pinehurst, Rev J J Condon pastor", Condon being a priest of St. Andrew's in North Billerica, and also notes Catholic services at the hall of the Pinehurst Improvement Association on Boston Road, with summer Masses at 9, 10 and 11. The 1932 directory lists the "Pinehurst Mission (RC) Boston rd" with St. Mary's of the Lake Church on Water Street at Nuttings Lake.

The Archbishop bought the rest of the block over the following decades. Mary J. Gleason, who had bought lots 238 to 241 from the trustees of the estate of Wilbert S. Bartlett in 1923, sold them to the Archbishop on January 25, 1936. In October 1937 the mission became St. Mary's Parish, with Rev. Charles Johnson as its first pastor (1937 to 1942); the new parish also served Burlington, whose mission became St. Margaret's in 1945. The 1941 and 1942 directories list "StMary's Roman Catholic Church, Boston rd" with the pastor and curate living at the rectory on Grove Street. Johnson died in September 1942 and was followed by Rev. James A. Donoghue.

On October 31, 1946 J. Joseph McHugh, administrator of the estate of Bernard F. McHugh, sold the Archbishop the corner of Boston Road and Cook Street for $3,000, and as trustee he added the strip behind it and lots 242 to 244. A new rectory was built on the corner (the assessor dates it to about 1947), and from 1949 the directories give the pastor's address as Boston Road: Rev. Edward J. Riley in 1949 and 1951, and Rev. Harold M. Wren, with the rectory at "797 Boston rd", in 1957. The parish added lots 245 and 246 and part of an old town parcel on Cook Street in 1952, and lots 233 to 237 on Beaumont Avenue in 1962, filling the block to Covington Avenue. In 1951 and 1957 the parish also still had St. Mary's of the Lake at Nuttings Lake as a mission chapel.

Town reports record St. Mary's priests giving the invocation at town events, among them Rev. Paul Bolduc in 1966 and 1969, Rev. John Lawlor in 1972, Father Paul V. Garrity in 1977, Father Edward McMahon, pastor, in 1995, and Father Mark Sullivan, pastor, in 2006 and 2011. In 2006 the Massachusetts Highway Department took a small strip of the corner for the widening of Boston Road (Route 3A) at Cook Street.

St. Mary's, St. Andrew's and St. Theresa's Catholic Church (St. Theresa of Lisieux) were merged on August 1, 2020 into one parish, St. Matthew the Evangelist, after declining membership made it hard to keep the three churches open. In August 2021 the pastor, Rev. Paul Aveni, announced that St. Mary's would be relegated to profane use: the parish's finance council and building committee had found that structural and safety repairs would cost at least $203,000, not counting work to bring the church and rectory up to code. The last Mass was said on October 30, 2021, and Cardinal Sean O'Malley's decree of relegation took effect on November 1, 2021, leaving St. Andrew's and St. Theresa's as the town's Catholic churches. In February 2023, with a sale pending, neighbors petitioned the town boards to keep the trees on the Cook Street side and bar a drive-through. On March 24, 2023 the Archbishop sold the 3.19 acres at 796 Boston Road to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, which planned a Dunkin' Donuts there, for $2,900,000, on the condition that "the church building shall be razed" and that the land never again be used for a church, for the benefit of St. Theresa's and St. Andrew's. The Board of Appeals granted the variances in June 2025 but refused the drive-through permit, and after a Land Court judgment the board granted a special permit for a drive-through restaurant on May 20, 2026, on the condition that the church and rectory be demolished first. The assessor divided the lot in 2026 into the rectory corner, the church lot at 796 Boston Road and the back lot on Covington Avenue.

St. Mary's Church — Plan of Land in Billerica surveyed for Sheldon and Eames, James A. Bancroft, Oct. 23, 1893, 1893 (Plan 10/27)

References

Title References

Date	Type	Grantor	Grantee	Summary	Recorded
November 4, 1824	Deed	John Parker of Wilmington, yeoman, and his wife Rachel	Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman	Carter farm title	256/482 (South)
	For $1600, "the one undivided half" of two tracts in the southeasterly part of Billerica on the county road from Billerica to Burlington: 29 acres "with the buildings thereon" on the westerly side, bounded by Jonathan and Benjamin Bowers, Shawshean river and Dixon's brook, and 200 acres on the easterly side, bounded by Ruel Goodwin, the heirs of Edward Farmer Jr., the Burlington line, James Bennett and Francis Cook. Signed May 28, 1818, recorded Nov 4, 1824. Billerica town book 13, pages 302-303. Margin cross references to town book 11 page 180 and 12 page 9 (Parker's title). Title from: November 4, 1824 Deed: Peter C. Brooks of Boston, Esquire (Ann Brooks, his wife, relinquishing dower) to Ruel Carter and John Parker, both of Wilmington (256/481) (Parker's half of the 1817 purchase) Title passed to: April 2, 1825 Quitclaim: Ruel Carter of Billerica, yeoman, and his wife Mary to Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman (259/191) (Ruel releases his half)
April 2, 1825	Quitclaim	Ruel Carter of Billerica, yeoman, and his wife Mary	Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman	Carter farm title	259/191 (South)
	For $1600, "all my right title and interest in and to the farm on which the said Ruel now lives situated in the southeasterly part of said Billerica on the great road leading from Billerica to Boston containing two hundred and thirty acres more or less with the buildings thereon standing", bounded by Ruel Goodwin, Francis Cook, James Bennett, Samuel Shed, Michael Crosby Jr., the great road, the widow Hannah Farmer's thirds, a brook and Shawsheen River, "being the same farm the said Ruel and Francis owned together". Signed Nov 22, 1824, recorded Apr 2, 1825. Billerica town book 13, pages 318-319. Title from: November 4, 1824 Deed: Peter C. Brooks of Boston, Esquire (Ann Brooks, his wife, relinquishing dower) to Ruel Carter and John Parker, both of Wilmington (256/481) (Ruel Carter's half of the 1817 purchase) November 4, 1824 Deed: John Parker of Wilmington, yeoman, and his wife Rachel to Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman (256/482) (Ruel releases his half) Title passed to: 1867 Administration: Estate of Francis Carter of Billerica to His widow Harriet Carter and daughters Harriet E. Alley, Martha Higgins and Fanny M. Marion (Probate #28894) (Francis Carter held the whole farm from 1824 until his death in 1867) December 4, 1889 Warranty Deed: Richard J. and Harriet E. Alley of Burlington, Martha C. Higgins of Somerville, Henry S. and Fanny M. Marion of Burlington, heirs of Francis Carter to Henry Sheldon of Wilmington, James T. Eames of North Reading and Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H. (211/154) (title recital) Related: November 4, 1824 Deed: John Parker of Wilmington, yeoman, and his wife Rachel to Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman (256/482) (the two halves of the farm Ruel and Francis Carter owned together)
1867	Administration	Estate of Francis Carter of Billerica	His widow Harriet Carter and daughters Harriet E. Alley, Martha Higgins and Fanny M. Marion	Francis Carter estate	Probate #28894
	Francis Carter died May 7, 1867, intestate. Richard J. Alley of Burlington, husband of the daughter Harriet E., was appointed administrator June 11, 1867, "all parties interested request him to administer and that there are no creditors". The inventory filed Aug 27, 1867 (appraisers William Winn, George Winn and Ruel Carter) lists "Two hundred acres of Land with the Buildings thereon situated on the Easterly side of the Street" at $6950 and "twenty nine acres with the Buildings thereon situated on the west side of the Street called the Barn lot" at $1000, with a mill house, two horses, five cows and wood lots. Widow's allowance $400. Title from: April 2, 1825 Quitclaim: Ruel Carter of Billerica, yeoman, and his wife Mary to Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman (259/191) (Francis Carter held the whole farm from 1824 until his death in 1867) Title passed to: December 4, 1889 Warranty Deed: Richard J. and Harriet E. Alley of Burlington, Martha C. Higgins of Somerville, Henry S. and Fanny M. Marion of Burlington, heirs of Francis Carter to Henry Sheldon of Wilmington, James T. Eames of North Reading and Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H. (211/154) (the heirs at law of Francis Carter)
April 15, 1870	Quitclaim Deed	George Bacon of Billerica (Sophronia G. Bacon releasing dower and homestead)	Sylvester E. Beard of Billerica	Beard farm, source of the Cook Street corner	72/591
	For $600, three tracts: "one tract of land with the buildings thereon containing about fifty eight acres, bounded Southerly or Southeasterly by the road leading from said Billerica to Wilmington, Southwesterly by land of Wm. S. Gleason, Northwesterly by Shawsheen river and Northeasterly by land of Caroline Goodwin"; one of about thirty acres "with a barn thereon" opposite, by Wm. S. Gleason, Joshua Bennett and the heirs of Ruel Goodwin; and about two acres at the county road from Boston to Lowell. "Being premises conveyed by Benjamin F. Beard to Daniel Richardson by mortgage deed dated March 10th 1848 and by said Richardson assigned to said Bacon, and also the rights of Caroline Goodwin as mentioned in a bond of said Bacon to said Beard dated April 14, 1868." Dated April 8, 1870. Title from: March 23, 1848 Deed: Daniel Richardson of Woburn, blacksmith (Louisa G. Richardson releasing dower) to Benjamin F. Beard of Billerica, yeoman (528/88) ("conveyed by Benjamin F. Beard to Daniel Richardson by mortgage deed dated March 10th 1848 and ... assigned to said Bacon") March 23, 1848 Guardian's Deed: Daniel Richardson of Woburn, guardian of his minor children Barbara Ann Richardson and Melvina Richardson to Benjamin F. Beard of Billerica, yeoman (528/89) Title passed to: September 7, 1910 Quitclaim Deed: Grace Knight Babson of Wellesley (Roger W. Babson, her husband, releasing) to Alice M. McHugh of Woburn (456/407) (part of the Bacon to Beard premises) 1918 Deed: Maria Beard of Billerica, widow of Sylvester E. Beard to Her son Sylvester P. (Percy) Beard (618/27) (by inheritance from Sylvester E. Beard (see the HELD note))
December 4, 1889	Warranty Deed	Richard J. and Harriet E. Alley of Burlington, Martha C. Higgins of Somerville, Henry S. and Fanny M. Marion of Burlington, heirs of Francis Carter	Henry Sheldon of Wilmington, James T. Eames of North Reading and Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H.	Carter heirs sell the farm	211/154
	"A certain farm, situated in the Southeasterly part of Billerica ... on the great road leading from Billerica to Boston, containing two hundred and thirty acres, more or less, with the buildings thereon", bounded by Ruel Goodwin, Francis Cook, James Bennett, Alford Carter, Samuel Shedd, Michael Berry Jr., the great road, a brook and Shawshin river. "Being the premises described in a deed from Ruel Carter to Francis Carter dated November 22, 1824 ... Book 259, Page 191, and the grantors are all the heirs at law of said Francis Carter". Signed Nov 23, 1889. Title from: April 2, 1825 Quitclaim: Ruel Carter of Billerica, yeoman, and his wife Mary to Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman (259/191) (title recital) 1867 Administration: Estate of Francis Carter of Billerica to His widow Harriet Carter and daughters Harriet E. Alley, Martha Higgins and Fanny M. Marion (Probate #28894) (the heirs at law of Francis Carter) Title passed to: January 4, 1893 Quitclaim: Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H. to Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading (240/252) (the 1889 purchase)
January 4, 1893	Quitclaim	Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H.	Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading	McLaughlin release, the Francis Carter place	240/252
	For $100, his "undivided third part" of three tracts: "First. The Francis Carter place so called comprising about two hundred and thirty acres of land with buildings thereon, situated in Billerica", the premises of the 1889 deed (Book 211, Page 154); and two Wilmington tracts, "Ladder-pole Swamp" and part of Butters field (Book 216, Page 313) and "the Carter lot" (Book 216, Page 314). Title from: December 4, 1889 Warranty Deed: Richard J. and Harriet E. Alley of Burlington, Martha C. Higgins of Somerville, Henry S. and Fanny M. Marion of Burlington, heirs of Francis Carter to Henry Sheldon of Wilmington, James T. Eames of North Reading and Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H. (211/154) (the 1889 purchase) Title passed to: 1893 Warranty Deed: Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading to Clara N. Wonson, wife of Benjamin H. Wonson, of Gloucester, in her own right (253/99) (Sheldon and Eames as sole owners) November 7, 1893 Warranty Deed: Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading (Sarah G. Sheldon and Betsey Eames releasing dower and homestead) to Hezekiah H. Bryant of Somerville (249/314) (Sheldon and Eames title)
1893	Warranty Deed	Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading	Clara N. Wonson, wife of Benjamin H. Wonson, of Gloucester, in her own right	Sheldon and Eames sell the western 100 acres of the Carter farm to Clara N. Wonson	253/99
	"One hundred (100) acres of land and the dwelling house thereon, taken from the westerly part of a certain farm formerly owned by one Francis Carter and situated in the Southeasterly part of Billerica ... on the great road leading from Billerica to Boston": 2602 feet along the road from the centre of a brook to land of one Beard, then by Beard, Gleason and Parker, "as shown on plan entitled Plan of land in Billerica surveyed for Sheldon and Eames dated Oct 23, 1893, James A. Bancroft surveyor" (Plan Book 10, Plan 27). Dated Nov 2, 1893 (per the next deed), recorded about April 1894. Title from: January 4, 1893 Quitclaim: Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H. to Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading (240/252) (Sheldon and Eames as sole owners) Title passed to: September 17, 1910 Warranty Deed: Clara N. Wonson, widow, of Billerica to Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline (456/384) (title recital)
September 17, 1910	Warranty Deed	Clara N. Wonson, widow, of Billerica	Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline	Wonson sells the 100 acres to Frank W. Coughlin (Pinehurst Manor)	456/384
	"A certain parcel of land situated in Billerica ... together with the buildings thereon", beginning on "the great road leading from Billerica to Boston at the centre of a brook that crosses it", 2602 feet along the road to land of one Beard, then by Beard, Gleason and Parker, "the whole tract containing one hundred (100) acres", as on the 1893 Bancroft plan (Plan Book 10, Plan 27). "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Henry Shelden and James T. Eames ... dated November 2, 1893 ... Book 253, Page 99." Signed Sept 13, 1910. Coughlin laid the tract out as the Pinehurst Manor house lots. Title from: 1893 Warranty Deed: Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading to Clara N. Wonson, wife of Benjamin H. Wonson, of Gloucester, in her own right (253/99) (title recital) Title passed to: 1911 Warranty Deed: Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline and his wife Elizabeth A. to Joseph F. Carr and Florence Carr, husband and wife, of East Boston (465/303) (title recital) 1914 Quitclaim Deed: Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline to James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee under an agreement and declaration of trust of February 6, 1914 (517/129) (same premises conveyed by Clara N. Wonson)
September 7, 1910	Quitclaim Deed	Grace Knight Babson of Wellesley (Roger W. Babson, her husband, releasing)	Alice M. McHugh of Woburn	Babson sells the Cook Street corner to Alice M. McHugh	456/407
	Dated August 18, 1910, for one dollar and other considerations, "a certain lot or parcel of land situated in the southeasterly part of said Billerica": beginning on the southerly side of "the road leading from Billerica to Wilmington by the Boston road" (Cook Street), easterly by that road to the heirs of William S. Gleason, southeasterly by Gleason and the heirs of Francis Carter to the Boston road, and northerly on the Boston road to the beginning, "said to contain two acres more or less". Part of the land George Bacon sold to Sylvester E. Beard in 1870 (Book 72, Page 591), Beard to Roger W. Babson 1901 (Book 329, Page 92), Babson to Harvey Mansfield (Book 338, Page 598) and Mansfield to the grantor (Book 338, Page 597). The next deed is her $400 mortgage of it to Roger W. Brown of Bedford. This is the Cook Street corner of the later church lot. Title from: April 15, 1870 Quitclaim Deed: George Bacon of Billerica (Sophronia G. Bacon releasing dower and homestead) to Sylvester E. Beard of Billerica (72/591) (part of the Bacon to Beard premises) Title passed to: November 2, 1946 Administrator's Deed: J. Joseph McHugh of Arlington, Administrator of the Estate of Bernard F. McHugh to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1057/44) (the Cook Street corner held by the McHughs since 1910)
1914	Quitclaim Deed	Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline	James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee under an agreement and declaration of trust of February 6, 1914	Coughlin conveys the unsold Pinehurst Manor lots to Burke, trustee	517/129
	Dated February 10, 1914, with quitclaim covenants, Coughlin's unsold lots in eight developments in Wilmington, Billerica and Tewksbury. The fifth parcel is "those lots or parcels shown on a Plan called Pinehurst Manor, drawn by H. A. Millhouse, C.E. dated September 1910" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), "being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Clara N. Wonson, dated September 13, 1910", subject to the mortgage of record. The trust is recorded in Suffolk, Book 3788, Page 161. Title from: September 17, 1910 Warranty Deed: Clara N. Wonson, widow, of Billerica to Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline (456/384) (same premises conveyed by Clara N. Wonson) Title passed to: September 4, 1914 Warranty Deed: James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee to Charles Haughey of Billerica (525/252) (part of the premises conveyed by Coughlin) November 3, 1915 Warranty Deed: James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee to Alice M. McHugh of Woburn (545/585) (part of the premises conveyed by Coughlin)
September 4, 1914	Warranty Deed	James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee	Charles Haughey of Billerica	Lots 229-232 to Charles Haughey	525/252
	Dated September 3, 1914, with warranty covenants, "lots numbered 232, 231, 230 and a portion of lot 229" of Pinehurst Manor (Plan Book 27, Plan 95): from the northerly side of Beaumont Avenue at lot 233, southwesterly on Beaumont Avenue 149 feet "to the Lowell Road", northwesterly on the Lowell Road (Boston Road) 110.2 feet, northeasterly through lot 229 about 200 feet, and southeasterly 200 feet on lots 241, 240, 239, 238 and 233, 25,674 square feet; "a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Frank W. Coughlin" (Book 517, Page 129). The south end of the later church lot. Title from: 1914 Quitclaim Deed: Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline to James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee under an agreement and declaration of trust of February 6, 1914 (517/129) (part of the premises conveyed by Coughlin) Title passed to: March 26, 1917 Quitclaim Deed: Thomas McHolland of Cambridge (Margaret P. McHolland releasing dower and homestead) to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (569/248) (same premises conveyed to Charles Haughey; title by his will)
November 3, 1915	Warranty Deed	James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee	Alice M. McHugh of Woburn	Lots 242-246 and part of 229 to Alice M. McHugh	545/585
	Dated November 1, 1915, for one dollar and other considerations, lots 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246 of Pinehurst Manor, 17,139 square feet, and the rest of lot 229: beginning on the northeasterly side of the Lowell Road at land "now or late of one Beard", northeasterly through lot 229 200 feet to the line of lots 241 and 242, northerly 64 feet to the Beard land, and southwesterly 238.2 feet to the beginning, 5,988 square feet; part of the premises conveyed by Frank W. Coughlin (Book 517, Page 129). The next deed is her mortgage of the same to Wilbert S. Bartlett of Boston. Title from: 1914 Quitclaim Deed: Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline to James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee under an agreement and declaration of trust of February 6, 1914 (517/129) (part of the premises conveyed by Coughlin) Title passed to: November 2, 1946 Trustee's Deed: J. Joseph McHugh of Arlington, Trustee under a declaration of trust of June 17, 1942 to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1057/45) (part of lot 229 and lots 242-244 sold to Alice M. McHugh in 1915) December 30, 1952 Quitclaim Deed: A private owner of Arlington, individually and as trustee to The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1213/582) (lots 245-246 sold to Alice M. McHugh in 1915)
March 26, 1917	Quitclaim Deed	Thomas McHolland of Cambridge (Margaret P. McHolland releasing dower and homestead)	Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole	First land of the Pinehurst mission bought by the Archbishop	569/248
	Dated March 22, 1917, for consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, lots 232, 231, 230 and part of lot 229 of Pinehurst Manor, on Beaumont Avenue and the Lowell Road, 25,674 square feet, by the same bounds as the 1914 deed: "Being the same premises conveyed to Charles Haughey by deed of James E. Burke dated Sept. 3, 1914" (Book 525, Page 252). "For my title see will of the said Charles Haughey, Middlesex Probate Records No. 105646." The first land of the Pinehurst mission. Title from: September 4, 1914 Warranty Deed: James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee to Charles Haughey of Billerica (525/252) (same premises conveyed to Charles Haughey; title by his will) Title passed to: March 24, 2023 Quitclaim Deed: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (Cardinal Sean O'Malley) to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, of Methuen (37740/106) (title reference)
June 21, 1923	Trustees' Deed	William H. Stickney, Eugene B. Hamilton and George Chandler Coit, trustees under the will of Wilbert S. Bartlett of Boston	Mary J. Gleason of Billerica	Lots 238-241 to Mary J. Gleason	683/462
	Dated June 16, 1923, for $245, "lots numbered 238, 239, 240, and 241 on a plan of Pinehurst Manor, drawn by H. A. Millhouse, dated September 1910" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95). The next deed is her $300 mortgage of the same four lots to Henry P. Shaughnessy of Billerica (discharged in Book 710, Page 500). Title passed to: February 21, 1936 Quitclaim Deed: Mary J. Gleason of Billerica (Michael M. Gleason releasing curtesy) to The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (878/475) (same premises conveyed by the Bartlett trustees)
February 21, 1936	Quitclaim Deed	Mary J. Gleason of Billerica (Michael M. Gleason releasing curtesy)	The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole	Lots 238-241 to the Archbishop	878/475
	Dated January 25, 1936, for consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, lots 238, 240, 239 and 241 of Pinehurst Manor (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), the lots behind the church; "Being the same premises as conveyed to me by William H. Stickney et al. Trustees by deed recorded June 21, 1923." Title from: June 21, 1923 Trustees' Deed: William H. Stickney, Eugene B. Hamilton and George Chandler Coit, trustees under the will of Wilbert S. Bartlett of Boston to Mary J. Gleason of Billerica (683/462) (same premises conveyed by the Bartlett trustees) Title passed to: March 24, 2023 Quitclaim Deed: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (Cardinal Sean O'Malley) to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, of Methuen (37740/106) (title reference)
November 2, 1946	Administrator's Deed	J. Joseph McHugh of Arlington, Administrator of the Estate of Bernard F. McHugh	Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole	Cook Street corner (rectory site) to the Archbishop	1057/44
	Dated October 31, 1946, by license of the Probate Court of October 17, 1946 (Middlesex probate 178188), for $3,000: a parcel bounded westerly on Boston Road 190.71 feet, northwesterly by "a curved line forming the junction of said Boston Road and Cook Street" 113.79 feet, northerly by Cook Street 182 feet, easterly by land of J. Joseph McHugh 161 feet, and southeasterly by other land of J. Joseph McHugh 238.2 feet. The Cook Street corner (the 1910 Babson land), where the rectory was built about 1947. Title from: September 7, 1910 Quitclaim Deed: Grace Knight Babson of Wellesley (Roger W. Babson, her husband, releasing) to Alice M. McHugh of Woburn (456/407) (the Cook Street corner held by the McHughs since 1910) Title passed to: March 24, 2023 Quitclaim Deed: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (Cardinal Sean O'Malley) to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, of Methuen (37740/106) (title reference)
November 2, 1946	Trustee's Deed	J. Joseph McHugh of Arlington, Trustee under a declaration of trust of June 17, 1942	Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole	Strip and lots 242-244 to the Archbishop	1057/45
	Begins at the foot of Book 1057, Page 44. Dated October 31, 1946, for consideration paid (less than $100), under the trust recorded in Book 1041, Page 338: land bounded northwesterly by the estate of Bernard F. McHugh 238.2 feet, easterly by other land of the grantor 64 feet and southeasterly by other land of the grantee 200 feet (the part of lot 229 sold to Alice M. McHugh in 1915), and "lots 242, 243 and 244" of Pinehurst Manor (Plan Book 27, Plan 95). Title from: November 3, 1915 Warranty Deed: James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee to Alice M. McHugh of Woburn (545/585) (part of lot 229 and lots 242-244 sold to Alice M. McHugh in 1915) Related: November 2, 1946 Administrator's Deed: J. Joseph McHugh of Arlington, Administrator of the Estate of Bernard F. McHugh to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1057/44) (second McHugh deed recorded the same day)
December 30, 1952	Quitclaim Deed	A private owner of Arlington, individually and as trustee	The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole	Lots 245-246 and Cook Street land to the Archbishop	1213/582
	Dated October 9, 1952, about 16,220 square feet on the southerly side of Cook Street: north 125.2 feet by Cook Street, northeast and east by other land of the grantor, southeast 187.3 feet by land of Timothy Leahy and lots 244, 245 and 246, and west 161.1 feet by other land of the Archbishop, as on a plan by James B. Monahan, August 1952; "a portion of land purchased from the Town of Billerica March 3, 1952" (Book 1191, Page 447). Also lots 245 and 246 of Pinehurst Manor, 6,789 square feet. Title from: November 3, 1915 Warranty Deed: James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee to Alice M. McHugh of Woburn (545/585) (lots 245-246 sold to Alice M. McHugh in 1915) Title passed to: March 24, 2023 Quitclaim Deed: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (Cardinal Sean O'Malley) to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, of Methuen (37740/106) (title reference)
September 28, 1962	Quitclaim Deed	Private owners of Billerica	Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole	Lots 233-234 on Beaumont Ave to the Archbishop	1574/427
	Dated September 1962, lots 233 and 234 of Pinehurst Manor on Beaumont Avenue: southerly on Beaumont Avenue 65 feet, westerly by lots 232, 231 and 230 100 feet, northerly by lot 238 65 feet, easterly by lot 235 100 feet, 6,500 square feet; title by a deed of 1947 (Book 1065, Page 203). Title passed to: March 24, 2023 Quitclaim Deed: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (Cardinal Sean O'Malley) to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, of Methuen (37740/106) (title reference)
September 28, 1962	Quitclaim Deed	A private owner of Billerica	Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole	Lots 235-237 at Covington Ave to the Archbishop	1574/428
	Recorded with the deed before it. Lots 235, 236 and 237 of Pinehurst Manor, at the corner of Beaumont Avenue and Covington Avenue: southerly on Beaumont Avenue 75 feet, westerly by lot 234 100 feet, northerly by lot 238 75 feet, easterly by Covington Avenue 100 feet, 7,500 square feet. Title by the collector's deed to the Town of Billerica of June 15, 1951 (Book 1173, Page 78), assigned in 1953 (Book 1235, Page 250), and a Land Court tax-title decree. With it the parish held the whole block from Cook Street to Beaumont Avenue. Title passed to: March 24, 2023 Quitclaim Deed: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (Cardinal Sean O'Malley) to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, of Methuen (37740/106) (title reference)
October 11, 2006	Taking	Massachusetts Highway Department (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)	Takes land of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston and others	State highway taking at Cook Street	20590/79
	Order of taking recorded October 11, 2006 (document 56789, 9 pages), for the Boston Road (Route 3A) layout at Cook Street and Summer Street, naming the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston among the owners. The assessor notes "Order of Taking 20590-79" on the church parcel and a loss of about 603 square feet from fiscal 2008. Related: November 2, 1946 Administrator's Deed: J. Joseph McHugh of Arlington, Administrator of the Estate of Bernard F. McHugh to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1057/44) (taking from the corner parcel)
March 24, 2023	Quitclaim Deed	Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (Cardinal Sean O'Malley)	Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, of Methuen	Archbishop sells 796 Boston Rd after the church closed; church to be razed	37740/106
	Executed March 2023, for $2,900,000, "+/- 3.194 acres of land known and numbered as 796 Boston Road", 139,129 square feet bounded by Boston Road (Route 3A), Cook Street, Covington Avenue and Beaumont Avenue, as on a GPI plan of March 15, 2023. The grantee covenants that "the church building shall be razed" and that for 90 years the land will not be used for a church, chapel or other house of worship, an abortion clinic, embryonic stem cell research or a charter school, for the benefit of St. Theresa's Church (466 Boston Road) and St. Andrew Church (45 Talbot Avenue), "being retained by the St. Matthew of the Evangelist Parish". Title: Book 569, Page 248; Book 878, Page 475; Book 1057, Page 44; Book 1213, Page 582; Book 1574, Pages 427 and 428. Title from: March 26, 1917 Quitclaim Deed: Thomas McHolland of Cambridge (Margaret P. McHolland releasing dower and homestead) to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (569/248) (title reference) February 21, 1936 Quitclaim Deed: Mary J. Gleason of Billerica (Michael M. Gleason releasing curtesy) to The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (878/475) (title reference) November 2, 1946 Administrator's Deed: J. Joseph McHugh of Arlington, Administrator of the Estate of Bernard F. McHugh to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1057/44) (title reference) December 30, 1952 Quitclaim Deed: A private owner of Arlington, individually and as trustee to The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1213/582) (title reference) September 28, 1962 Quitclaim Deed: Private owners of Billerica to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1574/427) (title reference) September 28, 1962 Quitclaim Deed: A private owner of Billerica to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (1574/428) (title reference)
August 8, 2025	Variance	Billerica Zoning Board of Appeals	Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC	ZBA variance for a Dunkin drive-through; church and rectory to be demolished	39443/153
	Decision of June 25, 2025 (cases 24-57 and 24-58), on remand from the Land Court (25 MISC 000175): variances granted 5-0 for the green strip and a second access on the corner lot, for a new 1,800 square foot Dunkin' Donuts with a drive-through to replace the one at 729 Boston Road; the special permit for the drive-through denied 3-2. Its proposed conditions included "The church and rectory buildings must be demolished" before building permits issue. Related: March 24, 2023 Quitclaim Deed: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (Cardinal Sean O'Malley) to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC, of Methuen (37740/106) (decision on the land in Book 37740, Page 106)
June 18, 2026	Special Permit	Billerica Zoning Board of Appeals	Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC	Special permit granted after Land Court judgment	40136/264
	Decision of May 20, 2026 (case 25-58): following the Land Court judgment of April 27, 2026 in Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC v. Zoning Board of Appeals (25 MISC 000175), the board voted 4-0 to grant the special permit for a drive-through, fast order food establishment at 796 Boston Road. Related: August 8, 2025 Variance: Billerica Zoning Board of Appeals to Cafua Realty Trust CLXII, LLC (39443/153) (same project)

Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted; Probate # is a Middlesex probate case, Ctf a Land Court certificate of title.

St. Mary's Church

St. Mary's Church

References

Title References Expand all

Title References