About St. Peter · Charlotte, North Carolina
St. Peter Catholic Church is a Jesuit parish in the heart of Charlotte's Center City, founded in 1851 and recognized as the oldest Catholic parish in Charlotte, North Carolina. Located at 507 South Tryon Street — most likely the oldest surviving edifice on Tryon Street — it stands in the shadow of modern skyscrapers across from the Mint Museum and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Staffed by the Jesuits since 1986, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Charlotte and is animated by the Ignatian spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. With over 1,400 registered households, St. Peter is known for its daily noon Mass, daily confession, urban outreach ministries, and a faith that does justice.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy J. Stephens, S.J.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. Peter offers the rare combination of a historic downtown parish with daily Mass and daily confession at lunchtime, making it a spiritual oasis for workers, residents, and visitors in Center City Charlotte. As a Jesuit parish, it brings Ignatian spirituality — retreats, discernment, and a faith that does justice — into the heart of the city's business community. Active outreach ministries in refugee resettlement, homeless shelter (Room In the Inn), youth education at Druid Hills Academy, and race relations give parishioners tangible ways to live the Gospel in one of the fastest-growing cities in the Southeast.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Tuesday 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Wednesday 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Thursday 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Friday 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Also available by appointment — call or email one of the priests directly.
Adoration times
- Adoration held during Lent (specific times published by the parish).
- Church is otherwise open 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM as a quiet place for prayer (times may vary on holidays).
History of St. Peter Catholic Church
From a 1851 cornerstone at the southern edge of Charlotte to a 21st-century Jesuit parish in the heart of Center City, St. Peter's story spans more than 170 years. The original 1851 church was damaged by a Civil War-era munitions explosion; the present Victorian Gothic brick church was begun in 1893. After losing formal parish status in 1970, the parish was reborn in 1986 when the Diocese of Charlotte invited the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus to take charge. Fr. John Haughey, SJ (pastor) and Fr. Eugene McCreesh, SJ (parochial vicar), together with three other Jesuits, restored daily Mass and reconciliation and built an outreach-focused community now numbering more than 1,400 households.
- 1851 — Rev. J.J. O'Connell lays the cornerstone of the original St. Peter Catholic Church.
- 1892 — Rev. Francis Meyer, OSB, becomes the first of six Benedictine monks to serve as pastor.
- 1893 — Cornerstone laid for the present Gothic Revival brick church on South Tryon at First Street.
- 1910 (approx.) — St. Katharine Drexel donates the historic pews, reserved in part for African Americans.
- 1970 — Day-to-day parish activities cease as the Catholic population moves to the suburbs.
- 1986 — The Maryland Province Jesuits take charge; Fr. John Haughey, SJ, named pastor; full parish status restored.
- 2010 — First Street beside the church is renamed Levine Avenue of the Arts.
- 2024 — Historic church renovation rededicated; pews restored; accessibility and structural upgrades completed.
Jesuit Identity and Ignatian Spirituality
Since 1986, the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus has administered St. Peter, making it one of the few Jesuit parishes in the Carolinas. The parish is animated by St. Ignatius of Loyola's vision of finding God in all things and all people. Ignatian spirituality at St. Peter offers retreats, book discussions (such as the summer read of Fr. James Martin's 'Work in Progress'), discernment opportunities, and a faith that does justice.
- Finding God in worship, spiritual formation, discernment, and service.
- Book-study and reading groups rooted in Jesuit authors.
- Pastoral outreach to the uptown business community.
- Quoted ideal from former pastor Fr. Jim Shea, SJ: 'St. Ignatius would be happy that we are in the Center City, as a missionary church going forth to serve.'
Community Outreach and Social Justice
Outreach is a defining mark of St. Peter. The parish's ministries focus on refugee resettlement, shelter and affordable housing, youth education and career opportunities, and race relations — work that grew out of the Jesuits' ties to Charlotte's uptown business community.
- Room In the Inn (RITI) — winter shelter and meals for homeless neighbors, Tuesday nights Dec 1 – Mar 31 (since 1996). Driver, Host, and Rooster teams.
- Druid Hills Academy — partnership with a Pre K–8th grade school near downtown (designated 100% poverty school); supports students, teachers, staff, and families.
- St. Peter Refugee Mentoring Team — resettlement support.
- Habitat for Humanity — home-building teams.
- Crisis Assistance Ministry — sorting donations and organizing the Free Store.
- Day of Caring — Saturday parish-wide service days.
- Sister-church collaboration with St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Charlotte.
Faith Formation — OCIA and Adult Programs
St. Peter offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA — formerly RCIA) for adults seeking to become Catholic or to complete their sacraments. Informal Inquiry Sessions are held periodically, and the parish also runs adult formation rooted in Ignatian spirituality, including small groups, retreats, and book discussions such as the summer read.
- OCIA Informal Inquiry Sessions (e.g., July 19, August 2 and 16, 2026).
- Summer Book Read on Zoom — featuring Jesuit authors.
- Discernment and spiritual direction opportunities.
- 20s & 30s Social group for young adults.
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
St. Peter celebrates the sacraments with the warmth of a downtown parish community. Priests are available for Anointing of the Sick by appointment, and funeral ministry is coordinated through Deacon Jim Bozik.
- Anointing of the Sick — Fr. Tim Stephens, SJ ([email protected] / 704-208-1977) or Fr. Mark Scalese, SJ ([email protected] / 704-208-1974).
- Funerals — Deacon Jim Bozik, 704-779-0170.
- Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation — contact the parish office at 704-332-2901.
The Historic Church Building
The current church, completed in 1893, is a simplified Victorian Gothic brick structure notable for its slender Victorian steeple rising above modern Center City skyscrapers. The building was recently renovated to preserve its historic fabric while adding accessibility and structural improvements.
- Style: Simplified Victorian Gothic (described as Germanic-stark, post-war South).
- Architect (renovation): Charles A. Hastings, AIA, ASID.
- Notable features: basket-weave brick bell-tower panel, fish-scale slate roof, gingerbread-trimmed steeple dormers, Gothic pointed-arch windows, brick-and-granite piers.
- Interior treasure: historic 1910 pews donated by St. Katharine Drexel — restored and reinstalled.
- Recent improvements: structural upgrades, accessibility enhancements, technical infrastructure.
Clergy and Parish Leadership
St. Peter is served by Jesuits of the Maryland/USA East Province and supported by lay staff and deacons.
- Pastor — Rev. Timothy J. Stephens, S.J.
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Mark P. Scalese, S.J.
- Deacon — Jim Bozik (704-779-0170; funeral ministry contact).
- Pastoral and operational staff contactable through the parish office: 704-332-2901.
Getting Involved — Stewardship of Time and Talent
Parishioners are invited to live their faith by serving through the parish's many ministries. Sign-ups are coordinated through the parish's Stewardship of Time and Talent form.
- Parish Activities category — outreach and service teams.
- Liturgical ministries, faith formation, and Ignatian small groups.
- Refugee mentoring, Room In the Inn host and rooster teams, Habitat, Crisis Assistance Ministry.
- Update Your Membership Record and ministry sign-up forms available on the parish website.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J.J. O'Connell1851
Placed the cornerstone of the original St. Peter Catholic Church.
- Rev. Francis Meyer, OSB1892
First of six Benedictine monks to serve St. Peter.
- Rev. John Haughey, S.J.1986-1990 (approx.)
First Jesuit superior and pastor after the parish regained full status in 1986.
- Rev. Eugene McCreesh, S.J.1986-
Parochial Vicar alongside Fr. Haughey at the parish's Jesuit rebirth.
- Rev. James (Jim) Shea, S.J.
Former Jesuit pastor; quoted in parish history: 'St. Ignatius would be happy that we are in the Center City, as a missionary church going forth to serve.'
- Rev. Timothy J. Stephens, S.J.present
Current pastor.
- Rev. Mark P. Scalese, S.J.present
Current parochial vicar.