About Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Front Royal, Virginia:
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church has an interesting history tied to John Carrell Jenkins: a Maryland soldier and graduate of Mount St. Mary’s prep school, who died fighting for the Confederacy and whose family gave the initial sum of money which made possible the erection of the Church. Young Jenkins was one of three brothers who enlisted in the Southern Confederacy.
The Jenkins family not only paid for the construction of St. John’s Church, but donated its altar, bell, pews, sanctuary lamp, vestments, and sacred vessels, as you can read on their website linked below.
Ir was dedicated on September 7, 1884 by Bishop John Keane, who was assisted by Reverend O’Connell; the Reverend D. Foley of Baltimore was the Celebrant of the High Mass, with Reverend O’Reilly assisting. A marble tablet was placed on the wall of the Church where it remains today, reading:
Pray for the Soul of John Carrell Jenkins – Died October 11, 1861 –
Out of Whose means Principally this Church has been Erected
At this time St. John’s Church was a mission church with priests from Winchester coming once a month to administer the sacraments and celebrate Mass. On July 6, 1940 St. John’s was designated as a parish, with its first pastor being Fr. Martin T. Quinn.
On June 24, 1998 a new larger church was dedicated next to the original, under the pastor Fr. William Ruehl. The original church was designated part of the Front Royal Historical District in 2003 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A renovation of the original church was undertaken in 2006-7 and it continues to serve as an Adoration Chapel to this day.
Eucharistic Adoration in Saint John the Baptist Church in Front Royal, Virginia:
Eucharistic Adoration is round-the-clock from after the 7:00 am morning Mass on Mondays until the 7:00 am morning Mass on Saturdays. They utilize their adoration chapel for overflow seating during the weekend, so the Blessed Sacrament is reposed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Traveling to Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Front Royal, Virginia:
Address: 120 Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630
Phone: +1 540 635-3780 Fax: +1 540=635-2683
Email: stjohns@sjtb.org
Click here for the official website of Saint John the Baptist Church in Front Royal, Virginia