About Corpus Christi · Baltimore, Maryland
Corpus Christi is a Roman Catholic parish in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, founded in the 1880s as the Jenkins Memorial Church by the five children of Thomas Courtney and Louisa Carrell Jenkins. The Gothic granite church at 110 West Lafayette Avenue, designed by the renowned Catholic architect Patrick Keeley, was consecrated on January 1, 1891, and was the first church in the United States to be named Corpus Christi and the first in Baltimore built entirely of granite. It is on the National Register of Historic Places (1978) and is noted for its Florentine-style mosaics, gold-tessera chancel, stained glass, and mosaic Stations of the Cross. Today, after merging with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption under the Archdiocese's 'Seek the City to Come' pastoral plan, the historic building is kept open as a ministry site for college campus outreach (alongside MICA, University of Baltimore, and University of Maryland, Baltimore) and marriage preparation, overseen by Deacons Fritz Bauerschmidt and Andrew Lacovara.
- Established
- 1880s (parish organized); church consecrated January 1, 1891
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) — first church in the United States to bear this name
- Rector
- Rev. Martin H. Demek (Pastor, historically listed on parish bulletins); the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption, with which Corpus Christi is now joined, is led by Father Brendan Fitzgerald, Rector
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore (parish is now merged with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the 'Seek the City to Come' pastoral plan)
Why belong here
Corpus Christi draws roughly 320 households from across the Baltimore metropolitan region into a vibrant, intentionally small faith community in the heart of historic Bolton Hill. Parishioners are drawn to its warm hospitality, its commitment to social justice, its openness to LGBTQ Catholics and families of every shape, and its collaborative ministry model that welcomes visitors as readily as long-time members. The parish's landmark granite church — Patrick Keeley's masterwork, with London-designed mosaics by John Hardman & Company — anchors a community that sees itself as a 'welcoming home in the Roman Catholic Church' and a place where everyone is invited to discover and live their baptismal calling.
Mass times at Corpus Christi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:30 PM and by appointment
- Sundays at 5:00 PM (until 5:20 PM) — under current Basilica ministry schedule
Parish History
Corpus Christi traces its roots to the early 1880s, when the Archdiocese of Baltimore established a Catholic presence in the then-fashionable Bolton Depot (later Bolton Hill) neighborhood. The first pastor, Rev. William Starr, celebrated Mass in his own home at 45 Bolton Street before Archbishop (later Cardinal) Gibbons built a school with a chapel on its upper floor. Roughly 1,000 people were enrolled by the mid-1880s, and organizations like the Apostleship of Prayer and the St. Vincent de Paul Society were launched. The defining moment in the parish's origin came from the Jenkins family: after Thomas Courtney Jenkins died on Christmas Eve 1881 and his widow Louisa Carrell Jenkins died a year later, she asked their five children — George, Eliza, John, Ellen, and Michael — to build a church in memory of their father. They funded what was originally called the Jenkins Memorial Church; ground was broken March 17, 1885; the cornerstone was laid in 1886; the original cost was about $230,000; the remains of Thomas and Louisa were translated to a crypt beneath the St. Joseph Chapel on December 12, 1890; and the church was consecrated on January 1, 1891.
- Parish organized in the 1880s in Bolton Depot (Bolton Hill)
- First pastor: Rev. William Starr, who celebrated Mass in his home at 45 Bolton Street
- Archbishop Gibbons built a school/chapel in the early years
- Funded by the five Jenkins children as the Jenkins Memorial Church
- Ground broken March 17, 1885; cornerstone 1886; consecrated January 1, 1891
- Original construction cost approximately $230,000
The Tivoly Disaster and the 7:00 PM Bells
In July 1883, barely into the life of the new parish, an outing on the Patapsco River ended in catastrophe when a rotting pier collapsed and 63 people drowned, 22 of them parishioners. The tragedy, known as the Tivoly Disaster, has been memorialized ever since by the Corpus Christi bells, which toll every evening at 7:00 PM.
- Tivoly Disaster on the Patapsco River, July 1883
- 63 total drowned; 22 were Corpus Christi parishioners
- Bells of Corpus Christi toll at 7:00 PM each evening in remembrance
Architecture: Keeley's Granite Gothic Masterpiece
Corpus Christi is a Gothic Revival church designed by Patrick Keeley, the foremost Catholic-church architect of his day, and was the first church in Baltimore built entirely of granite. Its interior, designed by John Hardman & Company of London, is famous for the large Florentine-style mosaics with gold tessera adorning the chancel, a mosaic Stations of the Cross, and a mosaic depicting the founding of Maryland. The building features four chapels and a baptistery with gold-mosaic ceilings, marble walls, statues of saints, stained glass, and a high vaulted ceiling with clerestory windows. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
- Architect: Patrick Keeley
- Interior: John Hardman & Company of London
- First church in Baltimore built entirely of granite
- First church in the United States named Corpus Christi
- Florentine-style gold-tessera chancel mosaics
- Mosaic Stations of the Cross and a mosaic of the founding of Maryland
- Four chapels plus a baptistery with gold-mosaic ceilings
- National Register of Historic Places, 1978
The Jenkins Family Legacy
Thomas Courtney Jenkins and Louisa Carrell Jenkins were among the most prominent members of Baltimore's 19th-century Catholic gentry — figures in business, philanthropy, church affairs, and the arts. The couple had worshipped at the downtown cathedral and had no prior ties to Bolton Depot, but their children were easily persuaded to build their memorial church there, in part inspired by Isabella Brown's earlier $150,000 gift to build Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in the same neighborhood. Thomas and Louisa are interred in a crypt below the St. Joseph Chapel; several of their children are buried below the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel.
- Thomas Courtney Jenkins died Christmas Eve, 1881
- Louisa Carrell Jenkins asked their five children to build the memorial church
- Children: George, Eliza, John, Ellen, and Michael Jenkins
- Thomas and Louisa interred in the crypt below St. Joseph Chapel
- Children of the family interred below St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel
Clergy and Staff
Corpus Christi has historically been served by a pastor, deacons, a pastoral associate, and a small lay staff supporting faith formation, music, business, and facilities. The current merged ministry at the church is led by the Basilica of the Assumption's rector, Father Brendan Fitzgerald, with the campus and marriage ministries overseen by Deacons Fritz Bauerschmidt and Andrew Lacovara, and Deacon Andrew Lacovara having served as administrator of Corpus Christi from 2021 to 2022.
- Pastor: Rev. Martin H. Demek
- Pastoral Associate: Betsy W. Lafferty
- Deacons: Fritz Bauerschmidt and Frank Hodges
- Deacon Andrew Lacovara (former parish administrator 2021–2022; now serving the merged campus/marriage ministries)
- Coordinator of Faith Formation: Kristen F. Bowden
- Community Center Program Manager: Roberta Preston-Brown
- Music Coordinator: Daniel C. Meyer
- Cantor: Anita Hampson
- Business Manager: Bob Wissmann
- Maintenance Supervisor: Jim Dimmer
- Rector of the Basilica of the Assumption: Father Brendan Fitzgerald
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Corpus Christi runs a Sunday School / Faith Formation program for children ages 5 through 13 (grades 1–8) on Sundays from 9:15 to 10:15 AM during the school year, with a separate Children's Liturgy of the Word offered at Mass. The parish also runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for non-Catholic adults seeking full communion and for baptized Catholics who have not yet received the other sacraments.
- Faith Formation for Children ages 5–13 (grades 1–8)
- Sundays 9:15–10:15 AM during the school year
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at Mass
- RCIA for unbaptized adults and uncatechized Catholics
Sacraments
The parish provides preparation for and celebration of the principal sacraments of initiation and healing. Baptisms are scheduled through the parish office and require a baptismal-preparation meeting for first-time parents; ordinarily both godparents are Roman Catholic, although a baptized Christian of another denomination may serve as a Christian Witness when at least one Catholic godparent is present. Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the homebound are arranged by notifying the parish office. Marriage is open to any couple of which at least one party is Catholic — parish registration is not required, but couples should call the parish office at least six months in advance.
- Baptism of Infants and Children (preparation meeting required for first-time parents)
- Anointing of the Sick (hospital or home visits on request)
- Marriage (any Catholic/non-Catholic couple; 6-month notice)
- RCIA
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Corpus Christi identifies itself as a 'vibrant community committed to celebrating our faith in Jesus Christ and extending hospitality to all who seek a welcoming home in the Roman Catholic Church,' and its ministry life reflects that call. Long-standing groups include the Pastoral Council, Liturgy Committee, Marriage Preparation, Hospitality, and Small Christian Communities. The parish is also known for GALA — Gays and Lesbians at Corpus Christi — and for its Sister Parish program, Artscape Weekend outreach, and ongoing commitment to social justice. The Corpus Christi Community Center at 703 Whitelock Street, Baltimore, MD 21217 (410-523-5822) provides space for community programs and is staffed by a program manager.
- Pastoral Council
- Liturgy Committee
- Hospitality
- Marriage Preparation
- Small Christian Communities
- GALA — Gays and Lesbians at Corpus Christi
- Sister Parish program
- Artscape Weekend outreach
- Corpus Christi Community Center, 703 Whitelock Street
Music and Liturgy
Music at Corpus Christi is coordinated by Music Coordinator Daniel C. Meyer, supported by Cantor Anita Hampson. The historic building itself, with its gilded Florentine mosaics, vaulted ceiling, and clerestory windows, is itself a defining element of the parish's liturgical experience.
- Music Coordinator: Daniel C. Meyer
- Cantor: Anita Hampson
- Liturgical setting: Keeley's Gothic interior with London-designed mosaics
Campus and Marriage Ministries (under the Basilica)
Since the merger with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption under the 'Seek the City to Come' pastoral plan, Corpus Christi's building has been repurposed as a ministry hub. Deacon Fritz Bauerschmidt and Deacon Andrew Lacovara lead a college-campus ministry serving Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA, located right next door), the University of Baltimore, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore — offering liturgies, educational programming, service and social-justice outreach, and fellowship opportunities. The same team leads a marriage ministry focused on marriage preparation and on keeping newly married couples engaged in their Catholic faith.
- Campus ministry at MICA, University of Baltimore, and University of Maryland, Baltimore
- Sunday 5:30 PM Mass geared to college students
- Marriage preparation and enrichment ministry
- Rectory repurposed as meeting space for the two ministries
- Deacon Fritz Bauerschmidt and Deacon Andrew Lacovara, ministry leaders
Location, Contact, and Practical Information
Corpus Christi Catholic Church stands at 110 West Lafayette Avenue in the heart of Bolton Hill, Baltimore, MD 21217, at the corner with Mount Royal Avenue. The parish office can be reached at (410) 523-4161, with email [email protected] (or [email protected] for the pastor). The Corpus Christi Community Center is located a short walk away at 703 Whitelock Street (phone 410-523-5822). The historic parish website remains live at corpuschristibaltimore.org, while the merged ministry is also referenced via corpuschristioratory.org.
- Address: 110 West Lafayette Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217
- Phone: (410) 523-4161; Fax: (410) 523-5745
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Community Center: 703 Whitelock Street, Baltimore, MD 21217; 410-523-5822
- Websites: corpuschristibaltimore.org; corpuschristioratory.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Starrearly 1880s
First pastor of the parish; celebrated the first Masses in his own residence at 45 Bolton Street before a school/chapel was built.