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.