Christ Church Cathedral began in a small chapel in the Springfield Armory in 1817. The current building on Chestnut Street was constructed in 1976. As a cathedral, it is the "mother church" for the sixty-eight parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts. Located in the center of the city, its congregation reflects the diversity of the city. As well as reflecting the city's diversity, it finds its ministry focusing, not only on proclaiming the good news of the Christian faith, but also on expressing the issues of the inner city (issues such as hunger, homelessness, and violence). Christ Church Cathedral is honored to join with the Pioneer Valley Project in reaching out to the people of our city.