Rev. Michael Dougherty, S.J., our first pastor, in the early days said Mass here only once a month. At the time of his departure Mass was said twice a month.

        Upon his arrival Rev. James B. Cotting, S.J., our sixth pastor, lost no time in taking steps to meet the expanding needs since it was obvious that the first church was too small. He proved to be an able organizer and worker and very popular with all members in the Gettysburg community.

        The new site was selected on West High Street, our present site. The ground was then occupied by the Lecture Room of the German Reformed Church. The 70’ x 180’ lot was purchased for $750.00 from Ferdinand E. Vandersloot.

        Fr. Cotting, known as “The Builder of Churches” (having built seven churches) was born in Switzerland on May 23, 1812 and ordained a priest on March 28,1840. He served here at St. Francis Xavier from 1849 to 1853.

         In late 1851, the building committee decided that it had raised enough funds to proceed with the construction. So, on December 22, 1851, the two Gettysburg newspapers (The Republican Compiler and The Star & Banner) both carried a public notice for a builder. A month later the building contract was awarded to George and Henry Chritzman.

        During the excavation of the new property, the ground caved in revealing a subterranean tunnel with flowing water. About the same time, George Arnold found the same problem while erecting a building on Lincoln Square.

        What caused the mysterious tunnels? It was explained by the existence of a commercial copper mine that ran beneath the church construction site. The fact that a vein of copper existed under the town was accidentally discovered in 1850, when a well was dug on West Street. A detailed account of the Gettysburg “Old Copper Mine” is recorded in “The History of Cumberland and Adams County,” published in 1886. Due to the ore deposit being limited the enterprise failed and the mine was converted to a well, with an inexhaustible supply of good soft water.

       Today the only visible vestige of the 143 feet deep shaft is a sealed mine shaft entrance that exists in the cellar of the Mercy Convent.

        From 1852 to 1853 the church construction proceeded at a rapid pace. The structure was 90 feet long, 48 feet wide and 40 feet high, with a Roman cupola adding another 20 feet to the top (this is still five feet shorter than the 65 foot steeple of the Washington Street Church.) Fortunately the old church is still with us since the bricks were removed from the “old” Washington Street church and recycled for use in our present church structure.

        There was a fine sanctuary with a sacristy on one side and a confessional on the other. At dedication it contained 64 pews and a center and two side aisles, but there was room for additional pews. (Undoubtedly this stemmed from the experience with the first church becoming too small in less than 20 years.) There was a fine pipe organ in the broad choir gallery that extended from wall to wall over the front entrance. A painting by Francis Stecker, showing St. Francis Xavier raising a dead man to life, was placed in  back of the altar. Above the sacristy there were alcoves from which sermons were sometimes preached. The 400 pound bell was installed from the “old” church until it too, was replaced in 1877 with the new bell weighing 1,233 pounds which continues in use today.

        The cornerstone was laid on Sunday, June 20, 1852 by the new Bishop of Philadelphia, the Rt. Rev. John Nepomucene Neumann, D.D., C.SS.R. It is believed that this was the first cornerstone laying by the Bishop. A year later he returned to dedicate and sanctify the church on July 31, 1853. The date was chosen because it was the feast day of the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius Loyola. On that historic day little did Father Cotting or the assembled parishioners realize that a saint had walked among them. During this dedication day, the saintly emigrant bishop from Bohemia, preached two sermons, one in English and of course, one in German and then administered the Sacrament of Confirmation.

        Less than two months after the dedication, Father Cotting was transferred to Maryland. This news was received with sadness and regret by his faithful parishioners. But, his recognized expertise and leadership talents were now needed elsewhere.          

        Father Cotting was succeeded September 11, 1853 by Rev. Francis Xavier Deneckere, S. J., who was the last Jesuit to serve this congregation. The Jesuits were serving more parishes than they had priests to serve as pastors and could only supply a priest on a part time basis. Father Deneckere was a man of considerable reputation for eloquence and learning. He established the first parish library and Rosary Society. He was born on February 2, 1810 in Bruges, Belgium. He had two sisters who were Notre Dame nuns and a brother who was also a Jesuit and an uncle who was Bishop of New Orleans.

        The first secular pastor appointed here on November 14, 1858 was Rev. Basil A. Shorb, who was born near Littlestown on October 16, 1810. He was  educated at Mt. St. Mary’s College and Seminary, Emmitsburg and ordained December 1834. While he was pastor here he also served St. Ignatius in Buchanan Valley and Immaculate Conception in Fairfield.

CHURCH/HOSPITAL

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

 If the issue of the 18th Century American was independence, that of the 19th was slavery. In 1863, that issue would affect the parish in bloody fashion before it was finally resolved. One of the most striking facts of American history is that no peaceful solution was found to the problem of slavery.

        Efforts to abolish slavery began early in America. Thomas Jefferson attempted to condemn the “institution” in the Declaration of Independence, but his southern colleagues forced him to delete the passage.

        Gettysburg’s most prominent abolitionist was Thaddeus Stevens, who served in the Pennsylvania Legislature. Later, he controlled the politics of the nation during and after the Civil War while serving in the United States Congress. Although not a parishioner of SFX Church, Stevens was later baptized a Catholic on his deathbed. (A Gettysburg Catholic, Lydia Smith, was Steven’s housekeeper for ten years and had a great influence upon him.)

        Finally, the issue that could not be resolved peaceably was resolved by a violent Civil War. For two years that war raged throughout the Southern States. Then, in July of 1863, the Confederate Army of Robert E. Lee invaded Pennsylvania and here at Gettysburg met the Northern Army of General George G. Meade. Gettysburg became the most destructive and decisive battle ever fought on American soil. In only three days, 172,000 men were thrown into the epic conflict, and 51,000 – almost one out of three – became casualties.

        Ironically, parishioner Nicholas Codori, who had emigrated from France in 1828 to escape the border conflicts with Germany, now found his farm in the middle of Pickett’s Charge – one of the great charges of military history.

        The first day’s battle was a northern disaster. Of the 18,000 Union Troops in the engagement, 12,000 were casualties, including 6,000 who were captured in the town itself. By July 4th The Battle of Gettysburg was over – the Union was saved.

        Gone were the two armies, but left behind were the dead, dying and injured. Locally, 113 improvised hospitals sprang up to deal with these 51,000 men. SFX Church was the second church to open its doors to the wounded and was in use by noon of July 1st. The most seriously wounded were brought here for amputation and treatment.

        Among the volunteers who served in SFX Church and elsewhere were the Sisters of Charity who came up from St. Joseph College at Emmitsburg, Md. They related: “The Catholic Church was filled with wounded, mutilated men… The first man put in the sanctuary was soon Baptized with truly Christian sentiments. His pain was excruciating and when sympathy was offered to him he said, ‘Oh! What are these pains I suffer in comparison with those my Redeemer suffered for me.’ In these sentiments he died…”

 While they cared for the bodies the Sisters did not neglect the souls of their patients. Many were prepared for the reception of Baptism and many died with these holy women comforting them with assurances of God’s infinite love and mercy. Catholics and Protestants alike were the objects of their tender ministrations and the joy of seeing them die piously was the good sisters’ great reward. A total of 39 sisters contributed their services to the hospitals and one had a surprising experience while administering to the wounded. Sister Serena Klimbiewicz discovered her own brother, Thaddeus, among the wounded. He and Sister had a great uncle, Kosciusko (the famous Polish General) who became an American hero in our War of Independence.

        Since our church had received many of the severely wounded who had required amputations, the medical authorities determined that many of these victims of the conflict were in a critical condition and could not be moved. The church, therefore, continued as a hospital until it was considered safe to move all who were housed there. This occurred at the end of September 1863. While the church was so occupied Mass was said in the front, second floor room at the home of Nicholas Codori at 44 York Street where both citizens and soldiers jammed the room and staircase. Due to the extensive damage done to the church and the subsequent repairs that were required no Mass was held in church until January of 1864.

        The pastor from July 16, 1861 to October 27, 1863 was Rev. Arthur M. McGinnis, who came here as a very young priest. One of the most significant events in our parish history occurred while this young priest was in charge. He died on May 21, 1873 at the age of 38.

        The church was soon repaired, chiefly under the guidance of a very energetic and capable pastor, Father Joseph A. Boll, who began his long and fruitful pastorate on January 4, 1864.

        In 1871 Father Boll installed gas lighting in the church. Also in 1871 he undertook the construction of the present rectory, located on the south side of West High Street, where it is today. Work began on December 1, 1871 and was completed on October 5, 1872 for a cost of $7,000.00 including furnishings and was paid over a period of four years.

        In the spring of 1873 St. Ignatius Parish, Buchanan Valley was separated from our parish.

        Mass was then celebrated the first three Sundays of each month at Gettysburg and the last Sunday of the month at Fairfield.