About Chapelgate

The story of CCA is the story of Chapelgate Presbyterian Church. The church began in 1894 through the vision and ministry of four women who met together over a laundromat in Baltimore City. A founding school board member, Donald Fisher, was married to Doris Fisher, granddaughter of one of those women, providing a living link between the founding of the church and founding of the school nearly a century later.

As early as the 1950’s, the church began praying for a Christian School. Dramatic events unfolded over the following years including the need to literally walk away from a church building and grounds over Scriptural inerrancy and other important issues. For a period of several years, the congregation met in public schools and operated out of commercial office space. The congregation doubled during what could be called the “Nomadic Years” at Chapelgate. Ultimately, the church joined other congregations in forming a new denomination: the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

While worshipping in the St. John’s Lane church location, a committee was formed to discuss the formation of a Christian school. A feasibility study indicated that the greatest need in our region was for a Christian high school. There were no other Christian high schools at that time in Howard County. One of Chapelgate’s sister churches, Liberty Reformed Presbyterian Church in Baltimore County, had a Christian school for students in grades K-5 just fifteen minutes from Chapelgate’s newly purchased land. After further study and a formal survey, the committee decided to begin a school with grades six to nine, adding grades ten to twelve in successive years. CCA would be the only Christian high school in Central Maryland approaching Christian education from the reformed perspective.

A ground breaking ceremony was held in September 1989, launching a substantial building project of over 50,000 square feet. Before moving into the building at 2600 Marriottsville Road, Ron Steel, the new Senior Pastor at Chapelgate preached a sermon on the value of Christian education. Enthusiasm for the school was rapidly building and with the Senior Pastor leading the charge, momentum continued to grow.

In August 1991, under the leadership of Dr. DiVirgilio, Chapelgate Christian Academy opened its doors to seventy-eight students in grades six through nine. The spring of 1995 saw a couple of historic moments for CCA: a second wing of 42,000 square feet was constructed, which included the cafeteria and many more classrooms. Later that spring, CCA had its first high school graduation. Dr. Ben Carson gave the commencement address, punctuating a very important time in the life of Chapelgate Christian Academy.

Due to health issues, Dr. DiVirgilio needed to step down as Headmaster after the first year so a new leader was needed for the Academy. Mr. Rob Van Ness accepted that role in May 1992 and served the school faithfully for 26 years. In spring of 2018, the school board of Chapelgate Christian Academy appointed its first female Head of School, Melissa Barrett.

The past two plus decades have seen growth in the depth and breadth of the overall school program. CCA has a respected and well-established program for international students, which make up 15% of our student population. In 2013, a preschool was established, which has now grown to a Lower School which serves children ages 2 through 3rd grade. In fall of 2021, Chapelgate will expand the Lower School to include 4th grade. By the fall of 2022, the Lower and Upper Schools will be bridged providing with classes serving PreK all the way through 12th grade.

Without question, the story of CCA is one of God’s faithfulness to His people. Both the school and the church have clearly seen the hand of God at work over the past 112 years. It will be exciting to see what God has planned for the next decade and beyond at Chapelgate Christian Academy!