Sunday, October 18, 2009

Father Peter Whelan: The Angel of Andersonville


Father Peter Whelan was an Irish-born Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Charleston and Savannah from 1837 until 1871. His story is not very well known, and yet, in his lifetime he touched thousands of people, which is highlighted by the fact that his funeral in 1871 was the largest that the city of Savannah had seen up to that time.

Known by survivors as the “Angel of Andersonville,” he was the only minister willing to serve within this prison den that witnessed the death of 13,000 Union prisoners-of-war in only fourteen months.

A new documentary, “Fighting the Good Fight: The Father Peter Whelan Story” brings to light the contributions of this courageous priest.

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