History of the Church:
With the arrival of Father James McGurk in 1869, the Church witnessed rapid growth. Two years later land was purchased in the amount of $6,000 for the erection of a new church at 7th and Clay Streets. On September 14, 1879, Holy Cross Catholic Church was dedicated. The Church was designed by Col. Ludwig August Forsberg, engineer and architect for the city of Lynchburg. At the time of the erection of this beautiful Gothic building, a two thousand pounds bell was installed in the steeple; but due to its deafening sound, a separate tower was built in 1899 to house the bell. The bell tower was modified in 1978 when the bells became electrically controlled. In the most recent (1985-1988) renovation, the tower became the home of the Church archives.

Other accomplishments achieved during the forty year pastorate of Father McGurk include the purchase of land on Bedford Avenue for Holy Cross Cemetery and the initiation of a parochial school at 9th and Clay Streets. The Daughters of Charity came from Emmitsburg, MD to staff the school and remained for over one hundred years until their departure in the spring of 1987 due to a drop in membership of their order.