From Daffodils to Devotion: A Rain-Kissed Visit to Corpus Christi

The Piedmont Recreation Department’s Walking on Wednesdays walkers had regularly checked the weather forecasts before our walk last Wednesday. They had gone back and forth saying it was or wasn’t going rain during our walk. The good news early Wednesday morning was that it wasn’t going to rain until the afternoon.

On past walks we had walked out St. James Drive to the Corpus Christi Catholic Church but never gone inside the church or considered its history. St. James is a long, flat, easy-to-walk street. And going this morning to its end at Park Boulevard would reward us with a tour of the church.

However, when we gather at the Exedra, the forecast had changed. Rain was coming in early. When and how much? Not sure. Some walkers had umbrellas, others didn’t, but our group of over 40 walkers decided to go ahead with our plan and the hope for the best.

We went up Highland Avenue, past beautiful yellow daffodils and white azaleas at the top of Piedmont Park, to Sheridan, Wildwood, and Crocker Avenues, and Hampton Road to Hampton’s meeting with St. James Drive, where it starts.

St. James is seven tenths of a mile long to its end at Park. We started our walk across it, going through the two white columns that mark one of the entrances to St. James Woods, a large, 1920s real estate neighborhood development. We noted a very large, uprooted tree stump on a steep slope whose tree had obviously once blocked the street after a winter storm. There were also many lovely gardens in homes’ front yards. A mature cactus garden was especially appreciated. However, as we walked, a light rain started to come down and those with umbrellas deployed them.

Some walkers decided to go back after the rain started, but over 30 walkers made it to Corpus Christ’s lower driveway, and Father Leo Edgerly Jr. came out to greet us.

Some church history was shared. The Corpus Christi Parish was founded in 1929 as part of what was then the archdiocese of San Francisco. Reverend Francis D. Ahern was appointed pastor effective November 4, 1929. He formally opened the parish on Sunday, November 24, when he celebrated the church’s first Mass.

The new parish first operated from a rented cottage at 222 St. James Drive, which doesn’t exist today. This small house was to the left of where a path up to Cambrian Avenue is now. In 1930, the archdiocese purchased the property at St. James Drive and Park Boulevard for the construction of a combined church and rectory that started in September of that year. On Sunday, January 11, 1931, Archbishop Hanna blessed the new church that seated 160 parishioners and the rectory.

In November 1933, Father Edwin J. Keller began his three-decade tenure as pastor of the Corpus Christi Parish. There were then 250 families in the parish and Father Keller immediately began planning for the construction of the present day church. That new church was dedicated on Sunday March 8, 1936. The church building is often thought to represent California Mission architecture, in a gesture to its home city, but it is actually based on the ecclesiastical architecture of the Piedmont hills in 10^th Century Italy. Shortly after the church’s completion, a parishioner commissioned Ansel Adams to photograph it.

The parish continued to flourish and opened the Corpus Christi School in September 1956. It has a K-8 student body and is, in fact, the fourth elementary school in Piedmont. In 1962, the church was renovated and extended by 55 feet, doubling its size, with its seating capacity increased to 1,000 parishioners. Construction of a new rectory commenced in August 1966 and was completed in May 1967.

In 1997, the City of Piedmont required a seismic retrofit of the church building and pastor Father Albano Oliveira developed a master plan for the church. It included the renovation and improvement of the church building, an activity building, and improvements to the school. In June 1997, the parishioners moved to the school auditorium, where masses were celebrated until December when they were able to return to the church. The finished church was dedicated on Sunday, March 29, 1998.

Between June and December of 1998, the church’s Gibson Center and Plaza were constructed next to the church and this completed the master plan. Father Oliveira officially opened the center on December 27^th. However, to everyone’s sorrow, he died unexpectedly on December 29^th. Father Leo Edgerly was appointed pastor 27 years ago in 1999. He summarizes the church’s history in a single sentence, "They sowed the seeds; we reap the benefits."

Father Leo invited us to come into the church where we sat in pews, and he shared more information about the church. He said the reason the church is on Piedmont’s border with Oakland border is that the city’s leaders at the time didn’t want a Catholic Church in Piedmont. The church’s early, three-decade pastor, Father Keller, was an able and strong-willed man. Keller Avenue at I-580 in Oakland is named after him. He was also a man who wasn’t afraid of confrontation. Piedmont city leaders didn’t want a Catholic school in Piedmont, and they tried to stop him from building one. The good father sued the City and won. He also had a set of bachelor brothers who left their money to him after they died. So, Father Keller had lots of money and his bishop wanted some of it, but Father Keller didn’t oblige. Instead, he used the money for his parish and that was a reason why he was never promoted to be a monsignor.

Father Leo pointed out the church’s Stations of the Cross, which is a 14-step Catholic devotion commemorating Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, that are around the perimeter of the church. He also pointed out the tabernacle at the church’s back, the plain brown stained glass windows, and a large organ. Father Leo said many Catholic traditions are borrowed from Judaism.

After answering our questions, Father Leo went back to his work as church pastor, school kindergarten and second grade teacher, and Bishop O’Doud High School faculty member, along with his other archdiocese responsibilities. He invited us to walk around the church and enjoy our visit, which we did. After inspecting the church, it was time for us to retrace our steps back to the Exedra. This time in real rain.