OUR HISTORY
Spreading the Good News in Greenville since 1884
OUR HISTORY AT A GLANCE
- 1828
First Record of Catholicism in Greenville
Found in U.S. Catholic Miscellany - 1884
St. Peter's Parish Established
Under Fr. Price - Original church purchased for $50 - 1926
New Church Built
Under first resident pastor, Fr. Charles Gable - 1946
St. Raphael School is Established
Later renamed St. Peter's - began with 56 students across 6 grades and run by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood - 1987
Passionists Arrive
In 1987, through an agreement with the Passionist Community and Bishop Joseph Gossman, five Passionist priests came to Greenville to serve the Catholic Community. - 1991
New Church Dedicated
A multimillion dollar building program was resulted in a new church, parish hall, parking facilities, new gymnasium and two extensions on the school. - 2010
Spiritual Life Center Built
Two-story building addition for parish programs - 2025
Today
Today we are blessed to have a beautifully active parish of more than 1600 families growing closer to Christ and one another as we seek to make disciples and spread the Gospel in Greenville and beyond!
OUR FIRST 100 YEARS
One of the earliest records of the faith in Greenville, North Carolina is found in the U.S. Catholic Miscellany. It notes that in March of 1828 some Catholics were living in Greenville and the surrounding vicinity. The old Baptismal records in Washington, NC records that Fr. Patrick Coffey visited Greenville in January of 1845. Mission priests served Greenville until Fr. Price began his regular visitations in the 1880′s.
In 1884, the parish of St. Peter was established in Greenville. Fr. Price purchased a frame building for $50 that the Episcopalians had used. This little church was moved two blocks to 2nd St. and was placed on a small lot given by Colonel Harry Skinner. This building served as the church until 1926 when Fr. Charles Gable, the first resident Pastor, built a combined rectory and church with the help of the Church Extension Society.
ADDING EDUCATION
During Fr. Gable’s 36 years as Pastor, a school named in honor of St. Raphael (later renamed St. Peter’s) was opened in 1946. The Sisters of the Most Precious Blood from Columbia, PA administered the school. There were 54 students at its opening with six grades. In 1953, a new school and auditorium were built. In 1985, Fr. Michael Clay obtained the services of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, NY who administered the school until 1999. Today, it is considered one of the finest elementary schools in the state with classes PK3 through eighth, grade with more than 450 students attending.
In 1987, through an agreement with the Passionist Community and Bishop Joseph Gossman, five Passionist priests came to Greenville to serve the Catholic Community.
EXPLOSIVE GROWTH
The 1990′s saw tremendous growth in the parish. A multimillion dollar building program was begun by Fr. Joseph Jones, C.P. It resulted in a new church, parish hall, parking facilities, new gymnasium and two extensions on the school. In 2010, a beautiful, two-story Spiritual Life Center facility was built and completed under Fr. Justin Kerber, C.P. , Pastor from 1998 through 2013.
Numerically, the parish numbered 36 parishioners in 1922. In 1981, there were 450. In 1987, there were 1,160. Today, there are 4,594 registered parishioners in our active, wonderful, and vibrant parish. Praise God!
Want to know more? Read about our church’s “popular” history in the 75th Anniversary Magazine for St. Peter’s School!
BE PART OF OUR FUTURE!
It’s all thanks to generous parishioners like you that we’ve been able to reach so many souls in our area. Want to continue to see the Gospel spread in Greenville? Your financial gifts help us make that possible!