St James Catholic Church

Our mission Statement : As followers of Jesus Christ, Saint James the Greater embodies love, respect and acceptance for all, guided by our faith. Through prayer, worship, and commitment, we align with God's will. United , we foster compassion, generosity, and forgiveness, welcoming all into our church family. As a culturally diverse community, we serve God through sacraments, stewardship, and evangelization, spreading His love worldwide. 

History:

Catholicism first took root in Cabarrus County through Joseph Barnhardt, a devout Lutheran whose search for truth led him to embrace the Catholic faith in 1842. Welcomed into the Church by Father Gifford, Joseph and his family inspired others in the area to follow their example, and within 25 years nearly the entire settlement had become Catholic. Barnhardt dreamed of building a church for the growing community, and though he passed away before realizing that vision, his family fulfilled it when George C. Goodman donated land on Gold Hill Road in 1869. That same year, Rt. Rev. James Gibbons dedicated the first St. James Catholic Church, where visiting priests celebrated Mass monthly for the faithful.

Over the years, St. James grew from a small mission into a thriving parish. The Benedictines of Belmont Abbey took charge in 1876, and by 1947, St. James became an official parish under its first resident pastor, Thomas Curran. After a fire destroyed the original church in 1954, a new one was built on Union Street, later expanding with a rectory, parish center, and education facilities. The parish adopted St. Joseph in Kannapolis as a mission in 1967 and welcomed the Redemptorists in 1974. In 2004, Bishop Peter Jugis dedicated the current church on Manor Avenue, marking a new era of growth that included the establishment of a Hispanic ministry and a youth center. The campus continued to expand with the addition of a new rectory in 2009, under the leadership of Fr. Joseph Dionne, reflecting the parish’s enduring faith and vibrant community spirit.