In 1851, several hundred Charlotteans,

half of whom were not Catholics, watched the

Rev. J.J. O’Connel lay the cornerstone for the

original Saint Peter’s Catholic Church.

“Since the beginning Jesus has built his church

on people whose faith was rock solid.

They were a century ago. They still are.”

-- Rev. John Haughey, SJ, former pastor of St. Peter’s Church

As Charlotte grew, residences were replaced

with businesses. Urban St. Peter’s

gradually found itself with

fewer and fewer parishioners.

In 1970 St. Peter’s ceased being a formal

parish. Though masses were said,

the day-to-day activities of a parish stopped.

In 1986, St. Peter’s Church

regained full parish status. Father Haughey

became pastor and the Rev. Eugene

McCreesh, SJ, became parochial vicar.

They tapped into the spiritual, relational and

intellectual hungers of the growing parish.

“As far as we know, St. Peter’s is the oldest

edifice remaining on Tryon Street.

It’s a constant in an ever-changing urban

landscape. St. Peters and its people

are an anchor here… a rock.”-- Rev. John Haughey, SJ

The most recent interior renovation of the church included restoring the original wood

flooring, creating natural wood window casings and beaded board wainscoting, and

refinishing the ceiling of the church.

The renovations included the addition of the fresco painted by Ben Long.

When those renovations were performed,

St. Peter’s had 350 registered families.

Today it boasts over 1,000.

The artwork that adorns the front of St. Peter’s

was completed and installed by the artist,

John Collier, in 2009 under the direction of Fr.

Joe Sobierajski, SJ.

Concurrent with the installation

of the new artwork, the need for

an exterior renovation became evident.

The photographs you see are proof of that

need. These images were provided by

Water’s Craftsmen and are reproduced

with their permission.

After receiving approval from the Diocese in

the summer of 2009, a contract was

awarded to Preservation Trades (Va.).

Repair work was underway in October, 2009,

and was completed April, 2010.

The work being performed includes replacing

rotted wood and painting the exterior

woodwork (including the soffits, fascia,

steeple louvers).

Several gutters and downspouts are being

replaced, and all window frames are being

repainted and regrouted.

Soon after Fr. Pat Earl, SJ, joined St. Peter’s,

he gave the newly formed Fundraising

Committee approval to begin a Preservation

Campaign Pledge Drive

to off-set the cost

of these extensive repairs.

“I pray the spirit of sharing in Jesus’ name will

always fill the hearts of our people.

Charlotte has heart, indeed she has, and we at

St. Peter’s are happy to be involved.”

-- Fr. Gene McCreesh, SJ