ST COLUMBA CHURCH
Saint Columba is a Roman Catholic Church in the Village of Chester, New York. For more than a century, people of different cultures have come together in this beautiful house of worship to celebrate one faith.
Construction on the Erie Railroad and the existence of rich farmland drew large numbers of immigrants to the Chester area during the latter half of the nineteenth century. These immigrants, including a large number of Irish Catholics, quickly set out to discover a place of worship they could call their own. Responding to the needs of God’s faithful entrusted to his care, the Archbishop of New York created Saint Columba parish in 1875. Nine years later, Cardinal John McCloskey traveled north to Orange County to consecrate the new church. Opening her doors to new waves of immigration from Italy and nations throughout Europe, Saint Columba Church did its best to serve and satisfy the spiritual and sacramental needs of God’s faithful.
Despite devastation following a fire, a new church emerged seeking to make Christ visible to persons living in the community. Today, the Church on High Street continues to serve the people of Chester. Inspired by the unconditional love expressed by Christ on the cross, the priests and people of Saint Columba welcome you to our spiritual home.