History
In the Beginning
Land was acquired from the Eighmy Farm in the 1940's and set aside for future expansion. Christ the King was established on October 1, 1950 as the eighteenth parish in the Diocese of McFarland. Fr. Harold McNeany, the first pastor, held mass at nearby St. Paul Episcopal Church for 3 years as the founding parishioners raised funds for the first church building.
Initial Construction
Final site plans were approved in March of 1952 and construction began in May of that year. The original church building took 22 months to construct. Bishop Thompson was on hand to celebrate the first Mass with Fr. McNeany on Easter Sunday, 1954. The first wedding took place the following Saturday as Gerald and Joyce Munns took their vows.
Growth
Fr. McNeany passed away unexpectedly in October of 1962 and Fr. Thomas Harrison was appointed to serve as the second pastor. He oversaw a general period of local economic depression during 60's and population boom in the 70's as new industry came to town.
Expansion
In April 1978, Fr. Alfred Sampson was appointed to serve as the 3rd pastor. Plans were drawn up the following year for a major expansion and renovation. The original church would be converted into the parish hall, a new administrative building designed, and a new chapel and main sanctuary established. The work was completed in two phases with the new building proceeding first, followed by renovations of existing structures. The new church was completed in record time and they held the first Mass at Midnight on Christmas Eve of 1980. Fr. Sampson served as pastor for 25 years until his retirement in 2003.
In 2005, the diocese instituted a new policy regarding priest assignments. Since then Christ the King has received a new pastor roughly every 5 years.
Pastors
10/1/1950 - Fr. Harold McNeany
10/18/1962 - Fr. Thomas Harrison
4/1/1978 - Fr. Alfred Sampson
7/1/2003 - Fr. William Smith
7/1/2005 - Fr. Terrance Harkins
7/1/2010 - Fr. Abel Knoll
7/1/2014 - Fr. Tom Jones
7//2018 - Fr. Tim Koth
