About Christ Our King · Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Christ Our King is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Charleston located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, serving the East Cooper Catholic community. Founded in 1971 and canonically established as a parish in 1973 by Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler, the parish grew out of a mission of Stella Maris Parish on Sullivan's Island that traces back to 1922. Today Christ Our King serves approximately 1,281 households and is closely tied to Christ Our King–Stella Maris School (K4–8th grade), a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2009 and 2023.
- Established
- 1971
- Patron
- Christ the King (Christ Our King)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert A. Spencer
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
Christ Our King is a large, multigenerational East Cooper parish with a strong liturgical and musical tradition anchored by its Holtkamp pipe organ and Frei-stained-glass nave. It offers the full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Masses (with weekday confessions and Saturday afternoons), First Friday Adoration, a Catholic school (COK–SM, a 2009 and 2023 National Blue Ribbon School), a parish preschool, Christian Formation and sacramental prep, youth ministry through Edge and Life Teen, and active outreach (the parish reports donating over $4 million from weekly tithes to local charities). For Catholics moving to Mount Pleasant it is a stable, family-oriented parish rooted in 50+ years of history and currently in an exciting renewal of its worship space.
Mass times at Christ Our King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30–9:30 a.m.
- Saturday 3:45–4:30 p.m. (some sources list 4:45–5:30 p.m. before the 5:00/6:00 p.m. Vigil Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month following the 7:00 a.m. Mass, concluding with Benediction at 5:00 p.m. (parish directory lists 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.)
History of Christ Our King Parish
Christ Our King began in 1922 as a mission of Stella Maris Parish on Sullivan's Island, with Mass first celebrated at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel at 735 Pitt Street. In the 1950s Msgr. Laurence McLaughlin built a hall on the present Russell Drive site, which served as a chapel and later anchored what became Stella Maris School (founded 1950, cornerstone laid 1953). In 1971 the diocese recognized Christ Our King as a parish community, and Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler canonically established it as a parish in 1973. The current worship space was dedicated on Gaudete Sunday, 1979.
- 1922 — Mission founded from Stella Maris; Mass at 735 Pitt Street.
- 1950 — Stella Maris School founded by Msgr. McLaughlin with 54 students.
- 1953 — Cornerstone laid at current Russell Drive campus.
- 1971 — Christ Our King recognized as a parish community.
- 1973 — Canonically established as a parish by Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler; renamed school Christ Our King–Stella Maris.
- 1979 — Current church dedicated on Gaudete Sunday.
Worship & Liturgy
The parish celebrates daily Mass, a Vigil Mass on Saturday, and three Sunday Masses. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held on the First Friday of each month, and confessions are heard Saturday mornings and afternoons (or by appointment). Holy Days bring three Masses. The historic pipe organ, stained glass, and growing choral program make liturgical music a particular hallmark of the parish.
- Weekday Masses: M–F 7:00 a.m.; Wed also 12:00 p.m.; Sat 8:00 a.m.
- Sunday Masses: Sat Vigil 5:00 p.m.; Sun 7:30, 9:30 a.m., 12:00 noon.
- Confession: Sat 8:30–9:30 a.m. and 3:45–4:30 p.m., or by appointment.
- First Friday Adoration with Benediction.
- Holy Day Masses: 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.
Church Building & Architecture
The church was built in December 1979 and designed by Simons, Mitchell, Small & Donahue Architects of Charleston. Its stained glass was fabricated by Emil Frei Studios of St. Louis, MO, and the ten nave windows each contain a crown underscoring Christ's kingship. A Holtkamp pipe organ (35 ranks, 24 stops) was added in 1997. The current renovation will expand the nave, add a Eucharistic Chapel and sacristy, install curvilinear pews, new slate flooring, LED lighting, and additional Frei stained glass, with a tabernacle niche and icon of Christ the King.
- Architect: Simons, Mitchell, Small & Donahue (Charleston, SC).
- Stained glass: Emil Frei Studios (St. Louis, MO).
- Organ: Holtkamp, 35 ranks / 24 stops (1997).
- Liturgical consultant for organ project: Abbot Francis Kline, OSCO.
- Director of Music at organ installation: Bill Becknell.
- Nave seating: 400 (parish total 600).
Church Renovation Project
In 2019 Fr. Spencer appointed a Renovation Advisory Committee to develop a Master Plan for renovating the worship space, working from the USCCB document 'Built on Living Stones.' The committee engaged Terry Byrd Eason Design as liturgical consultant and GBA Architecture as architect, with Hill Construction as builder. As of November 2024 the renovation was progressing on schedule.
- Liturgical consultant: Terry Byrd Eason Design (Chapel Hill, NC).
- Architect: GBA Architecture.
- Builder: Hill Construction.
- Cost estimate: $4.3 million.
- Master Plan features: enlarged nave, new Eucharistic Chapel & sacristy, curvilinear pews, slate flooring, additional Frei stained glass, tabernacle niche, icon of Christ the King.
Christ Our King–Stella Maris School
Founded in 1950 by Msgr. Laurence McLaughlin with 54 students and the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy as teachers, the school was renamed Christ Our King–Stella Maris in 1973 when Christ Our King became a parish. It now serves about 600 students in K4 through 8th grade drawn from four East Cooper parishes (Christ Our King, Stella Maris, St. Benedict's, and St. Clare of Assisi). It was named a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2009 and again in 2023. Principal Charlotte Funston leads the school; Pastor Fr. Robert Spencer serves as canonical pastor.
- Founded 1950 by Msgr. John Lawrence McLaughlin.
- Renamed Christ Our King–Stella Maris School in 1973.
- Long-serving principal Sr. Stella Maris Craven led the school 1980–2005.
- National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence: 2009 and 2023.
- Principal: Charlotte Funston; President: John Byrnes; Finance: Stacy Crosby.
- Notable alumni: Msgr. Lawrence McInerny, Fr. Gregory West.
Christ Our King Preschool
The parish preschool, directed by Mary Ann Free, offers 2K (two-year-olds, Tues/Thurs) and 3K (three-year-olds, Mon/Wed/Fri) programs, each running 8:30–11:45 a.m. Registration for the 2026–27 academic year opens September 1. Priority is given to current 2K students, siblings at COK-SM, children of staff teachers, registered/active parishioners of Christ Our King and sister parishes, and then the general public.
- Director: Mary Ann Free.
- 2K — Tues/Thurs, 8:30–11:45 a.m.
- 3K — Mon/Wed/Fri, 8:30–11:45 a.m.
- $150 registration fee.
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Christian Formation offers catechesis and sacramental preparation for children K3 through Grade 8 who do not attend COK-SM School. Sacramental prep is offered for First Communion (2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th grade). Youth Ministry runs two programs — MS Edge for middle school and HS Life Teen for high school — through the cokyouth.org hub. Orientation meetings for parents and students are held each August.
- Director of Religious Education / Youth Ministry: Paula Damask.
- Edge (middle school) and Life Teen (high school) via cokyouth.org.
- Confirmation prep for 8th graders.
- First Communion prep for 2nd graders.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar, four deacons (one retired), and a lay staff overseeing liturgy and music, pastoral care, Christian formation, finance, the parish office, facilities, grounds, and the preschool.
- Pastor — Rev. Robert Spencer.
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Libin Augustine, CMI.
- Deacons — Bob Boackle (retired), Kevin Campbell, Brian Justice, Jonathon Santilli.
- Liturgy & Music — Scott Atwood.
- Pastoral Care — Marie Donnelly.
- Christian Formation & Youth Ministry — Paula Damask.
- Parish Finance — Maureen Preston.
- Pastoral Assistant — Betsy Dalton.
- Parish Secretary — Ginger Cuttino.
- Facilities — Corey Seeber.
- Gardens/Grounds — Joey Bradshaw.
- Preschool Director — Mary Ann Free.
Parish Life, Outreach & Giving
Christ Our King describes itself as a community of approximately 2,000 families with a strong culture of stewardship. The parish reports that it has donated more than $4 million from its weekly tithes to local charities. Community activities include parish Bingo nights, a Senior Bridge group, and Senior Events. Maintenance and stewardship of the campus is supported by a dedicated facilities team.
- Over $4 million donated from weekly tithes to local charities.
- Parish Bingo.
- Senior Bridge and Senior Events.
- Stewardship through the Parish Finance office.
Visit Us
Christ Our King is located at 1149 Russell Drive, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 (parish office phone 843-884-5587). Visitors are welcome at any Mass. First Friday Adoration and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel provide quiet spaces for prayer, and the Reconciliation Room (in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel) is open Saturday afternoons for confession.
- Address: 1149 Russell Drive, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.
- Phone: (843) 884-5587.
- Email: [email protected].
- Web: https://www.christourking.org.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert J. Kelly1973–1977
First pastor of Christ Our King after it was designated a parish by Bishop Unterkoefler in 1973.
- Fr. Herbert Conner, S.J.1977–1989
Jesuit priest; led the parish during the 1979 dedication of the current church building.
- Msgr. James Carter1989–2017
Oversaw the 1997 sanctuary reconfiguration, the acquisition of the Holtkamp pipe organ, painting and tile flooring. Led parish through major growth.
- Rev. Robert A. Spencer2017–present
Current pastor; convened the Renovation Advisory Committee in 2019 and launched the multi-million-dollar church renovation with Terry Byrd Eason Design and GBA Architecture.