From the Archives – Paul Horton & Father Claws

Custodians are always important parish employees. They keep the place running! One of the most memorable in recent years was Paul Horton, who worked at Saint Mary during the 1980s and 1990s. A lifelong Old Towner, he was the brother of Al Horton, one of Saint Mary’s Boxing Club champions in the 1930s and 1940s. Paul spent many years working for the City of Alexandria and came to Saint Mary after his retirement. During the day, he worked at the church and Lyceum; he then worked at the school after dismissal, cleaning up after the children had gone for the day. Paul loved to polish the brass rails on the front steps of the church, and could be found there daily, chatting with all who passed by on Royal Street. A large, seemingly gruff man, he played Santa Claus at the school for many years.

Paul and his wife were cat fanciers. Their cats won ribbons at cat shows throughout the region. He befriended a Saint Mary neighborhood cat, solid black except for a white patch on its chest (resembling a priest’s clerical collar!) and aptly named it “Father Claws.” Father Claws often slipped into the church when worshipers opened the door, and found a sunny place to nap beneath the stained-glass windows until Paul escorted him out.

Paul was not a churchgoer, and for many years ignored friendly efforts by Saint Mary’s pastor, Monsignor Frank Hendrick, to convert him. One day, he surprised Monsignor Hendrick by announcing he wanted to join the Catholic Church. Paul Horton was one of those workers in the vineyard who come at a late hour but are warmly welcomed to the fold.

— Kitty Guy, Parish Historian

In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series. An archive of the features is located here.