About St. Richard of Chichester · Barnesville, Pennsylvania
St. Richard of Chichester Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Barnesville, Pennsylvania and the surrounding Ryan Township area in Schuylkill County. It belongs to the Diocese of Allentown and traces its origin to 1946, when it was founded as a Mission Church by Father Joseph McCaffrey of St. Canicus, Mahanoy City. The parish was elevated to full canonical status in October 1950 by Cardinal Dennis Dougherty of Philadelphia, and the present church building — constructed by Whalen Brothers of Pottsville from designs by Philadelphia architect Luis Gambone — was dedicated on July 3, 1955. The community worships in English and offers daily and weekend Masses, Sacramental preparation, and traditional parish life.
- Established
- 1946 (as Mission); 1950 (as full parish)
- Patron
- St. Richard of Chichester
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Whalen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. Richard of Chichester offers a small, intimate parish family where daily Mass is celebrated four days a week — Monday through Thursday at 9:00 AM — alongside a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass. The parish serves Catholics in the Barnesville and Ryan Township area of Schuylkill County with traditional Sacramental preparation for Baptism, Marriage, and Reconciliation, and welcomes new parishioners to register through the parish office. For those seeking a faithful, neighborhood-sized Catholic community rooted in the Diocese of Allentown and dedicated to its patron saint, St. Richard's provides a quiet, devotional home.
Mass times at St. Richard of Chichester
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 5:15 PM (before the Vigil Mass)
- By appointment — call the rectory
About St. Richard of Chichester Parish
St. Richard of Chichester is a small Roman Catholic parish in Barnesville, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Allentown. The parish serves Ryan Township and the surrounding Lakewood-area communities of southern Schuylkill County. Visitors and parishioners can contact the parish office by phone at (570) 467-2315, and the office is staffed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The parish publishes its Mass schedule, confession times, sacramental guidelines, and history on its official website at strichard.org.
- Parish Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: (570) 467-2315
- Diocese: Allentown
- Address: 799 Barnesville Drive, Barnesville, PA 18214
History of the Parish
St. Richard's was established in 1946 as a Mission Church by Father Joseph McCaffrey of St. Canicus, Mahanoy City. Early worship took place in the Ryan Township Fire Company, the Lakewood ballroom, and the Lakewood Tennis Club building. In October 1950 Cardinal Dennis Dougherty of Philadelphia raised the Mission to full parish status under the direction of its first canonical pastor, Father Edwin Horn. The Guinan family donated two acres of land and a house for use as a rectory, and Archbishop John F. O'Hara designated St. Richard of Chichester as the patron.
- 1946 — Mission Church founded by Father Joseph McCaffrey
- October 1950 — Elevated to full parish by Cardinal Dougherty; Father Edwin Horn named first pastor
- Two acres and a rectory donated by the Guinan family
- Patron designated by Archbishop John F. O'Hara
Building & Construction
The architectural plans for the new church were drawn by Luis Gambone of Philadelphia, and the construction contract was awarded to Whalen Brothers of Pottsville. Ground was broken in July 1954 by Father Dunn, Father Whalen, and Mrs. Julia Guinan. Despite severe winter weather, construction was completed in time for the first Mass to be celebrated on Easter Sunday 1955. The dedication and cornerstone ceremony took place on Sunday, July 3, 1955, with Solemn Mass offered by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, assisted by eight priests.
- Architect: Luis Gambone, Philadelphia
- Builder: Whalen Brothers, Pottsville
- Groundbreaking: July 1954
- First Mass: Easter Sunday 1955
- Cornerstone & Dedication: July 3, 1955, by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick
About St. Richard of Chichester (Patron Saint)
Saint Richard of Chichester was born in 1197 in a small town a few miles from Worcester, England. Orphaned young, he saw his elder brother imprisoned over unpaid debts on the family estate, and Richard gave up his studies to farm the land and buy his brother's freedom. Refusing both a noble estate and a brilliant marriage, he was eventually ordained a priest and in 1235 was appointed Chancellor of the University of Oxford for his learning and piety. He was later consecrated Bishop of Chichester, where he died in 1253. The parish website notes his name means 'Powerful Rich Ruler,' that he is the patron saint of Coachmen, and that his feast day is celebrated on April 3.
- Born: 1197, near Worcester, England
- Patron Saint of: Coachmen
- Feast Day: April 3
- Name Meaning: 'Powerful Rich Ruler'
- Bishop of Chichester; died 1253
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the three Sacraments of initiation and healing traditionally offered in a parish setting — Baptism, Marriage, and Reconciliation — and issues Sponsor Eligibility Certificates for Baptism and Confirmation. Parents seeking Baptism, couples preparing for Marriage, and Catholics called to serve as sacramental sponsors are asked to contact the parish office directly for guidance and required preparation.
- Baptism — usually on a Sunday afternoon; parents must be registered parishioners and complete a Baptismal Preparation Class.
- Marriage — arrangements to begin at least 6 months before the proposed wedding; contact the parish office for an appointment with the Pastor.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 5:00–5:15 PM, or by appointment.
- Sponsor Eligibility — sponsor must be a registered, active parishioner in good standing and, if married, in a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church.
Diocese of Allentown — Resources & Safe Environment
As a parish of the Diocese of Allentown, St. Richard's links directly to diocesan programs including Youth Protection, the Sexual Abuse Policy, and the Code of Conduct — all available at allentowndiocese.org by clicking 'Youth Protection' in the upper-right corner. The diocese publishes the contact information for its Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator (Ms. Wendy...) and the Diocesan Secretary for Youth Protection & Catholic Human Services (Pamela Russo, MSW, MS). The parish extends the Church's compassion to anyone who, as a minor, was sexually abused by a priest, deacon, or employee/volunteer of the Diocese or parish, and encourages survivors, parents, and guardians to reach out through these diocesan channels.
- Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator — Ms. Wendy (allentowndiocese.org)
- Diocesan Secretary for Youth Protection & Catholic Human Services — Pamela Russo, MSW, MS
- Youth Protection, Sexual Abuse Policy, and Code of Conduct available at allentowndiocese.org
Visit & Contact
The parish invites visitors to attend Mass and to stop by the rectory office during staffed hours. A Google Maps 'Get directions' link is provided on the parish contact page, and the parish encourages in-person visits. The office is closed Thursday through Sunday.
- Address: 799 Barnesville Drive, Barnesville, PA 18214
- Phone: (570) 467-2315
- Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Closed Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph McCaffrey1946 (mission founder)
Founded St. Richard's as a Mission Church from St. Canicus, Mahanoy City.
- Rev. Edwin Horn1950 (first pastor)
Appointed when Cardinal Dougherty established the mission as a full parish.
- Rev. Devlin
- Rev. Dunn
Participated in the groundbreaking ceremony in July 1954.
- Rev. O'Connor
- Rev. Hanlon
- Rev. Bednarick
- Rev. Luszcak
- Rev. Edward McElduff
- Rev. Joseph Whalen
Also named 'Fr. Whalen' who participated in the 1954 groundbreaking; listed again as current pastor on the parish history page.
- Rev. Schoenauer
- Rev. Joseph Sobiesiak
- Rev. Paul Puza
- Rev. Halabura
- Rev. Joseph WhalenCurrent Pastor
Serving as pastor per the official parish history page.