History

Timeline

  • 1790: Mass is celebrated close to Chambersburg, PA for the first time.

  • 1792: Christ's Church, a log church, is established by Father Dennis Cahill in Chambersburg. 

  • 1795: Conewago assumes responsibility for the mission church. 

  • 1804: A graveyard for the deceased Catholic faithful is built beside Christ's Church.

  • 1812: A new church, Corpus Christi, is constructed in stone.

  • 1820: Father Charles Kearns becomes the original pastor in residence at Corpus Christi.

  • 1827: Corpus Christi receives an organ  which was originally from a church in Philadelphia. 

  • 1874: Corpus Christi School is established. 

  • 1893: Five acres of land is bought by Corpus Christi to be used as a new cemetery. 

  • 1895: Cemetery is consecrated. 

  • 1899: Land is excavated in preparation for building a new church. 

  • 1900: The current church's cornerstone is laid.  

  • May 30, 1907: Corpus Christi's new church is dedicated.

  • 1909: Around 500 bodies are relocated from the old cemetery to the present cemetery.

  • 1922: Corpus Christi School building is built.

  • 1939: Sisters of St. Joseph's new covenant is inaugurated. 

  • 1956: Corpus Christi School building is modified. 

  • 1964: Corpus Christi School is expanded. 

  • 1984: Corpus Christi Church is finished being renovated. 

  • 1985: The A&P building (today’s parish hall) is bought by Corpus Christi. 

  • 1987: Sisters of St. Joseph end their ninety-nine years of service at Corpus Christi School. 

  • 1990: A program is established to have the old A&P transformed into the parish center.

  • 2000: Perpetual Adoration begins.

  • 2022: The Church Narthex is built on the site of the old Sisters of St. Joseph Convent.

    • The new building is blessed by Bishop Ronald W. Gainer Sunday June 26, 2022.

Did You Know?

  • The Archdiocese's of New York's initial Archbishop, John Hughes, was once a parishioner of Corpus Christi.

  • Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin used to minister in Chambersburg. Father Gallitzin was a Russian prince who served the Catholic faithful of America as a priest from 1795 until he passed away in 1840.