Incarnation Church History

Founded late in 1978, The Church of the Incarnation parish in Collierville started as a small congregation of nearly 105 families that had been attending Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Germantown until that time. While Incarnation parish had a strong group of founding families they began without a place in which to celebrate liturgies. Carl Rutledge, manager of the Collierville Funeral Home, was approached about use of the funeral home for Sunday liturgy. An agreement was reached that enabled the parish to celebrate the first Mass in Collierville on December 17, 1978. This first liturgy was celebrated by Reverend Peter Buchignani, the first pastor of Incarnation parish.

To further meet the spiritual needs of the parish daily Mass was later offered in the tiny living room of Father Atkinson, second Pastor of the Parish, located on Burley Road and later at Hunters Retreat.

Bishop Dozier appointed Reverend James Pugh as the third pastor of the Church of the Incarnation. At that time, a rectory was being rented on West Poplar where access to the funeral home was more convenient for the pastor. Daily Mass was offered in the dining room of the rectory that had been converted to a small chapel.

As the parish began to grow the needs of the parishioners increased rapidly. The funeral home was always available for Sunday liturgies, but was not available at other times during the week. Soon several ministers in Collierville were providing outreach to their new Catholic friends. Saturday evening Mass was celebrated at the United Methodist Church on the town square. Parish Religious Education classes were held in the Presbyterian Church on the corner of Poplar and Peterson Lake Roads. Choir practices were held in the St. Andrew Episcopal Church on Walnut Street.

Fr. Pugh soon discovered that there would have to be a major fund-raising effort if a church building was to become a reality in Collierville. In October of 1981, the first annual Fall and Christmas Bazaar was held with the proceeds going to the new church fund. Mr. Wade Daniel Brewer was chosen as architect of the new Incarnation Church facility. On November 20, 1983, 500 parishioners gathered for groundbreaking ceremonies on a 15 acre tract purchased on Bray Station Road. Four months later on March 26, 1984 the new Church of the Incarnation became a reality as Bishop J. Francis Stafford along with Bishop Dozier dedicated the Church facility.

In the summer of 1988 Fr. Pugh was transferred and Monsg. James Kleiser became the pastor followed in July of 1991 by Reverend William R. Kanter. A month later an opportunity was presented to purchase five acres of land with a house adjoining the existing church property. The land was purchased from the owners and the house became the new rectory and parish office. The former rectory, located directly in front of the church, was converted into additional classrooms and meeting room space. This acquisition provided much needed room and resources to the rapidly growing Parish.

On April 23, 1994, a joint meeting of the Parish Advisory Council and Parish Finance Committee met for the purpose of selecting a building committee to study the possibility of building a new church and a Family Life Center.

Due to limited space and an ever growing number of families, first priority was placed on funding and constructing a Family Life Center. The new Holy Family Life Center was dedicated in 1998. This building is now used by Incarnation Catholic School and Mother’s Day Out/Preschool, both of which opened in 2000, as well as the Parish Religious Education program.

When the Parish expanded beyond the capacity of the Church sanctuary the gymnasium was set up each weekend to accommodate the largely attended 10:30 a.m. mass. A major fund drive was conducted in the Parish to fund a new Church sanctuary and school expansion.

As the town of Collierville continued to grow as a community, parish growth coninued under Rev. William J. Parham who became pastor in July 2001 and continues today.  Our continued growth in Collierville and our Faith Formation commitment to our families is now visible through the construction of our new church building. The new church was dedicated by The Most Reverend J. Terry Steib, Bishop of Memphis, on January 21, 2007.

We thank our parishioners for all our accomplishments over the years.