Corpus Christi Church, Baltimore

Corpus Christi Catholic Parish is a historic church located in Baltimore. The church was consecrated on January 1, 1891, after several years of construction. It was built for the wealthy community of Bolton Hill, then known as Bolton Depot, and was one of the most magnificent churches in Baltimore at the time. Its consecration was a major social and liturgical event, attended by Cardinal James Gibbons, six bishops from across the country, and all the clergy of Baltimore.

The parish was founded in 1880, with the congregation meeting on the top floor of a school building across the street. The rectory was built in 1894, and the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Corpus Christi was originally called the Jenkins Memorial Church, and it was one of very few “memorial” Catholic churches in the United States dedicated to an individual or family. The Jenkins family was one of Maryland’s oldest families, prominent in business, philanthropy, church affairs, and the arts.

The style of the church is decorated Gothic, a style dating back to the 13th century. The ornate decoration throughout the church is meant to both instruct and inspire. The recurring themes throughout the church are wheat and wine, which can be seen on the marble floor, the mosaics, the stained-glass windows, and the altars.

Many of the mosaics and stained glass windows at Corpus Christi are considered some of the gorgeous examples in the world. The Apse contains five Florentine mosaics on glass depicting the life of Christ, which are only found in a few other places in the world.

Visitors are welcome to tour the church and learn more about its rich history and fine works of art. The church remains an important landmark in Baltimore and a symbol of the city's religious heritage.