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 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 establshed to have the old A&P transformed into the parish center.

Did you know? The Archdiocese's of New York's initial Archbishop, John Hughes, was once a parishioner of Corpus Christi.

Some information from:

DeFrank, L., Ruda, F., Entler, D., & O'Shea, H. (n.d.). Corpus Christi Church Bicentennial Celebration 1992. Thomas A. Thorne.

Itzoe, L. V. (2006). Highway of Missionaries: An Illustrated History of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Strasbourg, France: Éditions du Signe.