The Reverend Patrick X. Flaherty wrote (in the Dedication  of The New Church  of Christ The King program, November 30, 1941)  that long before the creation of Christ The King, a handful of Catholics lived in the "quaintly old and sternly religious" Haddonfield, suffering and sacrificing Sunday after Sunday to worship at Holy Mass in Snowhill (now Lawnside).  It was a two and three hour trudge through snowdrifts in winter to reach the unheated shack where a missionary would say mass.  A handful of working people made up the congregation.

In June of 1897, the corner-stone for the Church of St. Rose of Lima was laid. The small congregation from Snowhill, with their sons and daughters, now began the trek to Haddon Heights.  As the congregants from Haddonfield increased, they began to wonder if there were not enough of them to warrant a church of their own in Haddonfield?  

They found a place of their own at the Firehouse on Haddon Avenue near Kings Highway.  A plan was arranged for a priest to come each Sunday from the mother Church of Rose of Lima.  It was nothing to brag about, but it was in the town of Haddonfield itself.  Twenty-five to thirty people attended each Sunday morning, kneeling on hard wood floors and sitting on camp stools.  

The mission congregation moved again when the Odd Fellows Hall, next door to the firehouse, became available.  They still hadn't reached Kings Highway where all of the other churches were located, but they were on their way.

Their next move was to Artisans Hall, or the Haddon Fortnightly.  Originally built as a Methodist church, there was lots of room although the building was somewhat rundown and dilapidated.  The stairs creaked; on the other hand, there were worn plush seats - a first for the pleased congregants.

The new parish of Christ The King was created by Bishop Moses E. Kiley of the Trenton Diocese in 1935. Father Joseph B. McIntyre was appointed Pastor. The boundaries encompassed all of the Borough of Haddonfield; and Erlton, Ashland and Deer Park which today are part of Cherry Hill Township.  The area consisted of approximately 500 Catholics.  In 1928 land had been acquired on Hopkins Avenue in Haddonfield and a church was erected. (Today, this is the front section of Christ the King School). 

1938...St. Mary's Mission Church in Deer Park (now Cherry Hill Township) --  our first mission church -- was dedicated.  Prior to that time, Masses were held in a parishioner's home.  With the fast-paced development of the Cherry Hill area, the parish quickly outgrew the original church structure on Route 70.  Through the efforts and dedication of many hardworking parishioners, St. Mary's Parish was relocated to nearby Springdale Road in 1961.  The parish then numbered almost 900 families.

1939...St. Mary Home for the Aged on the Kresson Road (now Cherry Hill Township) was opened.  Father McIntyre foresaw the diocesan need and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the construction of St. Mary's Home within the confines of our parish.  From its early beginnings, the home has been capably staffed by the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.

During the year 1939, our first Associate Pastor was assigned to Christ the King: Rev. Patrick X. Flaherty, C.S.V.   Before the year was over, plans were laid for a new church building and school.

1940...Christ The King School became a reality, starting with 150 children.  The upper floor of the church was used for classrooms and the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York, arrived in Haddonfield to staff the school.  Extensive remodeling has since taken place converting the entire building into a school which includes recreational facilities..  Before the year was over, ground was broken for a new church across the street.

On Mother's Day 1941, the cornerstone was laid for the present Christ The King church.  For more than half a century, the mission of our parish has always been to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to every woman, man and child living in Camden County. Through ongoing formation we support the leadership roles of the Liturgical Committee, Choir, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Ministers of Hospitality who help us praise and thank God every day. God willing, Christ the King Parish will continue to be a great source of hope and spiritual outlet for all of its over fifteen hundred family parishioners for many years to come.

1945....St. Mary of the Angels Academy, a high school for young women, opened (and remained in existence until 1972).  It was located on West Kings Highway in Haddonfield and our Allegany Franciscans moved in to staff the school.  The student body was comprised of  girls from many parishes in the Camden Diocese.  Liturgical functions took place in Christ the King Church.

1949...The church of the Holy Rosary on Burnt Mill Road in Ashland (now Cherry Hill Township) -- was our second mission church -- was dedicated on October 2.  this newly-formed parish began with 33 families and Mass was offered in a private home.  The parish has  (in 1985) grew to over 600 families.

A school and auditorium have been added and the original church-building is still utilized for small liturgical functions.,

1952...Additional classrooms were added to Christ the King School, along with a gymnasium-auditorium.

1955...Queen of Heaven Church on Route 70 in Erlton (now Cherry Hill township) -- our third mission church -- was formed.  Services first were held in the Erlton Fire Hall across the highway from the present church erected in 1955.  From its early beginnings of approximately 250 families, the parish grew (in 1985) to close to 1,700 families and included a school and auditorium hosting many recreational activities.

1958...A new convent for the Franciscan Sisters staffing Christ the King Church School was dedicated by Most Reverend Justin J. McCarthy, second Bishop of Camden.  The structure is adjacent to Christ the King School and includes spacious accommodations with a chapel for our dedicated Franciscan Sisters who, in addition to staffing our school, direct the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Program and a Ministry to the Handicapped.

1960...Christ the King Church celebrated its Silver Jubilee with Most Rev. Celestine J. Damiano, third Bishop of Camden Diocese, presiding.  Many activities took place during the first  week of October...starting with Masses for the living and deceased members of the parish, and climaxing with a civic banquet and dance which was attended by many parishioners and friends of the parish.

1964...The Pope John Lounge Building was opened and the House of Charity of the Camden Diocese was formed here in the fall.  :Located on the Lake Street side of our parish property, this building has housed the school library and came to be used almost daily for meetings, religious education, and socials.  The building was formally dedicated in 1965.

1965...The Parish Council was formed and David J. Finn elected to serve as our first President.  A steering committee was selected to set up committees to best serve the needs of our parish.

1969...Parish Council Officers were formally installed on January 26. The first official Parish Council Meeting was held on May 20.  And on October 14 the Parish Council Constitution was ratified. 

During this same year, Christ the King School became a Regional School, its goal being  "a sound, superior education within a Catholic environment."  A Regional School Board was initiated.  In addition to our own parish, students came from surrounding parishes of Pious X, St. Mary's and St. Thomas More, all in Cherry Hill Township.  Today, it is still operating as a Regional School and we are proud of the scholastic achievements our school has made and the benefits of a sound Catholic education in the formative years it provides to our children.

1970...On January 9, approval was received from the Diocese to build a  new rectory.  And on March 10, the Parish Council By-Laws were adopted!

1971...the new rectory was completed and our priests moved in to more spacious quarters.  A coordinator was hired to direct the work of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.,  Sister Francis-Mary of the Allegany Franciscans became our first Director of Religious Education.  And on November 29 Monsignor Charles P. Barth arrived to assist Monsignor McIntyre with the administrative duties of the parish

1973...On March 20. our beloved Monsignor McIntyre went to his eternal reward.  Ordained in 1926, Monsignor devoted all his energies during his priestly life of 47 years for the spiritual benefit of all people entrusted by God to his care.  The fruits of his labors are a living monument to our beloved founding Pastor of Christ the King...the early formation of the parish...establishing Christ the King School...erection of a new convent, gymnasium-auditorium...a new rectory...the three mission churches....St. Mary's Home and the Academy.  Although he was best known for his spiritual leadership in the parish, his special talents as a planner, organizer and administrator of extraordinary ability were displayed as Chairman of the Bishop's Building fund in construction of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital...Chancellor of the Diocese...Founder and first Managing Editor of the Catholic Star Herald...and Co-Founder of the House of Charity.

In May of l973 our first Deacon, Terry Odien, was ordained in Christ the King Church.

1974...On September 14, Monsignor Barth was installed as the second pastor of Christ the King.  The parish had approximately 1,100 families at this time. The 1970's saw Christ the King changing in line with the dictates of Vatican II -- a permanent deaconate, Lectors (male and female), Eucharistic Ministers, New Rite of Reconciliation, an active CCD Program, many adult education programs to name just a few.

1975...The Monsignor McIntyre Memorial Park was dedicated on the first Sunday of October.  Located on the lot adjoining the school on Hopkins Avenue, it is a lasting memorial to his outstanding leadership and spiritual guidance.

1978...In March we bid adieu to our second pastor, Monsignor Barth, as he transferred to St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral in Camden.  Servicing first as Administrator and then as Pastor of Christ the King, we were sad to see Monsignor Barth flee from our midst after serving for only seven short years.  Monsignor led us through the transition of many changes in the Catholic church, and through his financial expertise, for the first time our parish was free of debt!

And, we welcomed our third pastor, Monsignor Edward F. Mullen, who came to us from St. Francis de Sales Parish in Barrington.  Immediately, as a parish, we pledged our help to the inner-city parishes in Camden.

1980...Plans were made for a parish Renovation Program.  Monsignor Mullen called a number of meetings for complete parish involvement.   Architects' drawing were reviewed, bids were scrutinized, many discussions took place, before the actual work began during the summer months.  On Sunday, November 23, on the Feast of Christ the King, Bishop Guilfoyle re-dedicated our beautifully-renovated church.

1981...Our first Youth Minister, Karen Schetter, arrived in the fall and immediately went to work with the high school youth of the parish with many religious and social activities.

1984...Early in the year, we got started on our 50th Anniversary Planning.  Among the volunteers who came out to the first meeting, committees were formed and immediately went to work..

1985...Our 50th Anniversary Year contained many special events...beginning with Eucharistic Exposition...a Golden Fair Day...a parish communion breakfast...open house at the convent honoring our present and former teaching nuns and all present and former parishioners...all culminating the last week of November with the special Masses and parish banquet.

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