St. Denis Church

Address: 14 E Wood St., Versailles, Ohio, 45380-1440 (Darke County)

Phone: (937) 526-4945 Website

Mass Times: Sat. 17:00; Sun. 08:00, 11:00; Mon. 08:00; Tue. 08:00; Wed. 08:00; Thurs.08:00; Fri. 08:00; Vigil of Holy Day: 18:30; Holy Day: 06:30, 15:30; Adoration: Mon. 08:00 to 20:30 (Usually on Thurs. from 8:00 AM Mass to 8:30 PM Benediction); Confessions: Sat. 15:45 to 16:45; Thurs. 19:00 to 20:00

Parish Founded: 1864 Church Built: 1962

History: St. Denis traces its beginnings back to the founding of St. Valbert's Parish in 1839. St. Valbert's was established by Bishop John Baptist Purcell to serve the French settlers in Jacksonville (Versailles), Champaigne (Frenchtown), Russia and Newport. Fr. Louis Navarron was named the pastor. The location, the current St. Valbert's cemetery, was chosen as it is central to those communities.

In 1846, parishes were established in Russia and Frenchtown. The people of Versailles continued to worship at St. Valbert's until 1864 when the Baptist Church, located on the current Worch Lumber property was purchased. That Church building was destroyed by the Great Fire of Versailles in 1901.

The parishioners chose St. Denis as the new name for their parish. St. Denis was the first bishop of Paris, France in the 3rd century. He led his people during a time of widespread persecution which lead to his death by beheading. The legend is that he picked up his head and walked a mile with it. That legend is depicted in the statue that is at the south church entrance. The Church in France was growing in its love of Christ. The early parishioners wanted that same kind of community where the love of Christ was very much alive.

The parish continued under the administration of Holy Family in Frenchtown until 1896 when the pastor moved to Versailles as the population grew. In 1888, the parish bought the property surrounded by South Center Street, East Wood Street, Second Street and East Ward Street. A church was built and a school (1893-94) and convent followed. By 1961, the parish out grew the church. The church was torn down and a new church was dedicated in June 1962.

The church building tells the story of the Parish’s French heritage in the stained glass windows on the south side and has themes of the Mass on the north side.