St. John the Baptist Church

History of Parish: St. John the Baptist is the oldest Catholic Parish in Mercer County and as such is the "mother parish". The first mass was celebrated on June 24, 1836, by Father Henry Damien Junker, then pastor at Minster. There were 45 people attending. By the following spring in 1837 the new parish had built their first church building. Within ten years it became apparent that it was being outgrown, and in 1849 a new church was being built, and was dedicated in 1850. Master Builder Johann Anton Goehr of Minster was the builder and architect of the church. It was 40 feet wide, 60 feet long and stood east and west about where the present church stands with the main door to the west. The total cost was $4,015 and was finished without borrowing any money. The Precious Blood community assumed the care of the parish in 1845, providing pastors to the present day.

In 1887, the congregation voted to build a new and larger church. In 1889, Rev. Joseph Dwenger, Bishop of Ft. Wayne, Indiana and native son of St. John blessed the cornerstone. Anton DeCurtins of Carthagena, Ohio was the contractor. Archbishop Elder of Cincinnati dedicated the new church on November 11,1891.