A Profile of Saint Raphael the Archangel Parish:
Founded in 1888, as Manchester's mill-based economy was reaching its height, Saint Raphael is now a community of faith for approximately 3,000 persons from some 900 families. Situated in southwestern Manchester, the parish continues to serve the descendants of the first German and Irish immigrants for whom it was established. The parish is operated by the Benedictine monks of Saint Anselm Abbey in Goffstown on behalf of the Diocese of Manchester; at present, one monk is assigned as pastor and assistance from others is provided as needed. Today, the parish complex consists of Saint Raphael Church, constructed in 1964; the parish rectory, built in 1907; Saint Benedict Academy, opened in 1964, and the parish religious education center in the original Saint Raphael building of 1888. Unlike some churches of the 1960s criticized for their spare interiors and uninspiring exteriors, the Saint Raphael Church building is both functional and aesthetically pleasing - a tribute to the architects and monastic ethos that helped design it. The contemporary Italianate-style church, designed by architects Andrew and Nicholas Isaak of Manchester, includes a belfry, baptistery and daily Mass worship space, the Saint Benedict Chapel, as well a fully fitted kitchen, hall and classrooms for religious education on the basement level.
