ABOUT US
HISTORY OF ST. ANN’S
St. Ann’s Parish was established on August 15, 1955, with the purchase of the northeast corner property at Park Road and Hillside Avenue. It was the fourth Catholic parish erected in the city of Charlotte. During the parish’s first year of existence, Sunday Masses were offered in the nearby Park Road School Auditorium. St. Ann’s school building was completed and dedicated in September 1956.
The celebration of parish Masses then moved into what is now the library of the school above the original auditorium/cafeteria space. Masses were offered in the school until the original church structure was built in 1960. Bishop Vincent Waters dedicated the original church building on December 18, 1960.
The original church structure consisted of a crypt church and a façade that faced Park Road, and a plan was made to finish the structure by building the upper church later. By 1961 money was raised by parishioners for this purpose, but St. Ann’s first pastor, Msgr. Michael Begley (who would become the first bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte), determined that the money would be better spent by opening a mission parish three miles south on Park Road to serve Charlotte’s growing population. St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church was thus founded in 1961.
In the late 1980s, the idea of completing the upper church was again considered. However, it was decided that the parish was in greater need of an Activity Center to accommodate the growing needs of the parish and the school. Thus, the St. Ann Activity Center was planned, and after raising the necessary funds, it was built in 1993 during the pastorate of Msgr. Richard Allen (who served St. Ann's from 1988 - 2000). When Msgr. Allen retired in 2000, the Activity Center was renamed the Msgr. Allen Center.
Eventually, instead of adding an upper church to the existing church structure, the entire church building was completely renovated in 2008-2009. The newly renovated church was dedicated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis (who was baptized at St. Ann's) on December 5, 2009. Since that time, the church has been embellished with several works of art, including life-sized statues of saints, a massive apse wall mural, mosaics, and gold leafing - all working together to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that gives glory to God and is conducive to prayer.
The celebration of parish Masses then moved into what is now the library of the school above the original auditorium/cafeteria space. Masses were offered in the school until the original church structure was built in 1960. Bishop Vincent Waters dedicated the original church building on December 18, 1960.
The original church structure consisted of a crypt church and a façade that faced Park Road, and a plan was made to finish the structure by building the upper church later. By 1961 money was raised by parishioners for this purpose, but St. Ann’s first pastor, Msgr. Michael Begley (who would become the first bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte), determined that the money would be better spent by opening a mission parish three miles south on Park Road to serve Charlotte’s growing population. St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church was thus founded in 1961.
In the late 1980s, the idea of completing the upper church was again considered. However, it was decided that the parish was in greater need of an Activity Center to accommodate the growing needs of the parish and the school. Thus, the St. Ann Activity Center was planned, and after raising the necessary funds, it was built in 1993 during the pastorate of Msgr. Richard Allen (who served St. Ann's from 1988 - 2000). When Msgr. Allen retired in 2000, the Activity Center was renamed the Msgr. Allen Center.
Eventually, instead of adding an upper church to the existing church structure, the entire church building was completely renovated in 2008-2009. The newly renovated church was dedicated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis (who was baptized at St. Ann's) on December 5, 2009. Since that time, the church has been embellished with several works of art, including life-sized statues of saints, a massive apse wall mural, mosaics, and gold leafing - all working together to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that gives glory to God and is conducive to prayer.
STAFF
Rev. Mr. Peter Tonon
Deacon
Deacon
(704) 523 - 4641 ext. 223
Virginia Blatchford
Director of Faith Formation & Evangelization
Director of Faith Formation & Evangelization
[email protected]
(704) 523 - 4641 ext. 232
(704) 523 - 4641 ext. 232
Chris Brunhuber
Liturgical Ministries Coordinator
Facilities/Maintenance Supervisor
Liturgical Ministries Coordinator
Facilities/Maintenance Supervisor
