St. James Roman Catholic Church in Elkins Park and St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Cheltenham recently celebrated their 100th and 70th anniversaries.

From the Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Facebook post:

The second parish to turn 100 is St. James in Elkins Park. Work quickly started on a combined school/church, with the stone coming from a quarry on the parish property. While the building was complete by 1924, the debt would take decades to pay off and the hole from the quarry would not be filled until the mid 1940s. As the parish grew, a larger church was need, so the groundbreaking took place on Sept. 25, 1966 and the cornerstone by Krol in 1968.

The Research Center shared the following photos of St. James:

Today St Joseph in Cheltenham celebrates its 70th anniversary. Situated in both Philadelphia and Montgomery country, the parish used St. Helena’s hall for the first year. Masses were then held in a chapel in the rectory basement until combined church/school was complete in 1955. pic.twitter.com/Dt3L3WstWg

— Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP (@CHRCofAOP) June 12, 2023

For more on St. James, located at 8320 Brookside Road, you can visit their Facebook page and website.

For more on St. Joseph, located at 7631 Waters Road, you can visit their Facebook page and website.

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.

Photos courtesy of the Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia