Richard Scannell was born on 12 May 1845, in Cloyne, County Cork, in Ireland to Patrick and Johanna (née Collins) Scannell.[1] After completing his classical studies in a private school at Midleton, Ireland,[2] he entered All Hallows College in Dublin in 1866.
Scannell was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Nashville in Tennessee, on 26 February 1871.[3] He arrived in the United States later in 1871 and was appointed as a curate at Holy Rosary Cathedral. In 1878, he became pastor of St. Columba's Parish in East Nashville.[2] He returned to the cathedral as rector in 1879.
Following the transfer of Bishop Patrick Feehan to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Scannell served as apostolic administrator for the diocese from 1880 to 1883. After a leave of absence for health reasons, he organized St. Joseph's Parish in West Nashville and built its church in 1885. In August 1886, Scannell was appointed vicar general of the diocese.[1]
With only 20 resident pastors and a growing Catholic population, Scannell attempted to solve the priest shortage by establishing a preparatory seminary in Belleville, Kansas, laying its cornerstone in June 1890.[1] However, due to an economic depression, the seminary was never built and left a long-lasting debt. During his three-year-long tenure, Scannell also assisted the Sisters of St. Joseph to become permanently established in the diocese, erected fifteen churches, and increased the number of diocesan priests from five to twenty-two.[1]
