The Church and Its History

Parish Established, 1812, Third Street 
Pioneer Catholics in Lexington worshipped in their homes and in a log chapel until the first church, Saint Peter, was built on Third Street next to the site now occupied by the Central Fire Station. Popular missionary priest, Father Stephen Badin, was responsible for building the church. The site, with its own cemetery, was then on the outskirts of town. 

New Church Building, 1837, North Limestone (Mulberry) Street 
The population of Lexington and its Catholic community increased with the introduction of the railroad and other improvements. By 1837, Catholics moved into the second St. Peter Church at the corner of North Limestone (then Mulberry) and Third Streets. Across the street, James Weir had begun construction of the mansion that is now Whitehall Funeral Home. The old Greyhound Bus Station was on the site that St. Peter occupied. The location and building of the church commenced the community's long and happy alliance with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. The Sisters had opened St. Catherine Academy on the Limestone property and sold the corner portion for construction of the church. In 1868, St. Paul Church was built on Short Street, and St. Peter was maintained as a mission. 

When St. Peter was reinstated as a parish in 1909, the pastor, Fr. William Punch, immediately began what may be Lexington's longest fund drive! For twenty years, he collected 25¢ a week from his parishioners. Those funds contributed to the construction of the present St. Peter Church on Barr Street. 

The Third Church Building, 1929, Barr Street 
Many of our established parishioners today at St. Peter can remember the dedication of the church on April 7, 1929 . Several changes have occurred since the beginning of the Barr Street complex: church, rectory, convent, and school.

Over time, school enrollment declined with the opening of other parishes, but the dedication of St. Peter's teachers and students continued. Religious Sisters no longer staffed the school, so the convent was closed. It reopened as St. Peter Education and Community Center (SPECC) in 1979.

Renovating the Church, 1983 -1987 
The three-year renovation project ($155,000) required liturgical approval from a Diocesan Commission and was carried out by the Renovation Committee of which Ella Pat Bausch was chairperson. The resulting beauty of the interior has elicited much praise from parishioners and visitors. Air-conditioning was added and the portal stone from the church on Limestone was erected on the front lawn to the right of the church entrance, and re-dedicated. 

In the following years, the landscaping underwent many changes. The Sisters of Cardome in Georgetown, Kentucky, gave St. Peter Church the statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette. Under the guidance of Fr. Paul Wethington and Mr. Jim Evans, a beautiful shrine was added to the east lawn of the church. Father Thomas Thai had a brick wall built beside the rectory, which, with its greenery, has greatly enhanced that area. A handsome wrought-iron fence and trees were added to the Pleasant Stone side of the property. A new church sign was designed and donated by Mr. Albert Oberst, a parishioner.  

1997 - Present 
In 1997, the three downtown parishes (St. Peter, St. Paul , and St. Peter Claver) were assigned one pastor, Father Daniel Noll, and one associate pastor, Father Gino Donatelli, S.J. Each parish had a pastoral associate and deacons to assist with the parish ministry. 

In 2004, Father A. Charles Savarimuthu, H.G.N., of the Heralds of Good News missionary order from India, was assigned as Sacramental Minister. 

In July, 2006, Father Nicholas (Nick) Pagano was assigned as Parish Priest. 

In July 2007, Father John List was assigned as Pastor and Pam Berger was designated as Pastoral Associate and the Director of Faith Formation.  St. Peter has four Deacons on staff Deacon Bill Wakefield, Deacon Ted Fraebel, Deacon Scott Hunt, and Deacon Phil Latiff.

The St. Peter Parish rectory is home to the pastor and served as home to Fr. Ted Keller until his passing in 2018. 

On November 18, 2010, the parish office moved to the renovated St. Peter Education and Community Center. And in January of 2011, the name of the building was changed to Wethington Parish Center in memory of our former pastor, Rev. Paul Wethington. As a parish center, it now houses the parish offices, classrooms, and meeting rooms.

The parish proudly celebrated its bicentennial celebration in 2012.

From: Catholic Encyclopedia at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm#I