Parish History

Since the early nineteenth century, Immaculate Conception Church has thrived in Clarksville, Tennessee. Initially served by missionary priests from Bardstown, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, the Parish was originally named St. Mary. It was administered by Reverend Ivo Schacht, the first pastor. The church bore the name St. Mary until May 30, 1875, when entries on the parish record books were recorded under the name Immaculate Conception. 

On August 12, 1880, Right Rev. Patrick Augustine Feehan, Third Bishop of Nashville (1865-1880), and Father Patrick Gleeson, Pastor (1873-1885), laid the cornerstone of the church that serves as Immaculate Conception’s Chapel today. The Chapel is on the National Historical Register. 

St. Mary Center (now our main Church) was completed and dedicated as an educational-activity center on August 17, 1975. The center was refurbished and rededicated as Immaculate Conception Church June 21, 1987, by Most Rev. James Niedergeses, D.D., Bishop of Nashville, and Pastor Robert J. Roeser (1982-1992) and presently serves as Immaculate Conception’s Worship Center. 

A school existed in Immaculate Conception Parish from 1860-1969. St. Mary was staffed by the Dominican Sisters from 1887 who taught there until its closing in 1969. It was located at 740 Franklin Street. It was closed in 1969 due to the condition of the building and a decline in enrollment when Ft. Campbell opened its own schools and could no longer bus students to the Catholic school. Our Pre-School has been on parish grounds since 1976. 

A Town Hall meeting was held in February 1999 to address growing interest among parish members of Immaculate Conception to revive a Catholic elementary school for the education and faith formation of their children. In June of 1999, the parish purchased our current school site. 

The Jubilee Year (2000) marked the return of St. Mary Catholic School after a thirty year absence. After considerable renovation, St. Mary School, including a chapel and gym, opened its doors at 1901 Madison Street on August 15, 2000 serving grades Kindergarten through Fourth. A grade was added each year through Eighth. Currently, it is a parochial K-8 elementary school. A Before and After Care Program for students began in August 2002. In 2011 the name was changed to Immaculate Conception School.