Bancroft - St. John the Baptist

BANCROFT - On Nov. 17, 1877, Bishop  Hennessy of Dubuque appointed Father Michael Nicholls pastor of Algona Parish. This assignment also included Bancroft as an out-mission. In December of that same year, Father Nicholls offered the first Mass in town. As there was no church in or around Bancroft, arrangements were made to have Mass in the public school.

In March of 1888, Father Nicholls conducted a meeting to consider the building of a church. Bishop Hennessy gave his blessing and a lot was purchased for $500 in July of 1890. The first Mass was held in the new church on Oct. 18, 1890. Father Anthony Joseph Schemmel was the first pastor of St. John Church in 1891.

Back in 1891, the parish boasted a list of 86 families. Today, there are approximately 450 families in St. John Parish, which is clustered with Sacred Heart Church in Ledyard.

St. John Parochial School was completed in 1899 at a cost of $11,000, including the furnishings. Father Schemmel officially opened the school for its first term of classes in September of 1900. There was an initial enrollment of 216 students.

After 40 years of service, the old school was rapidly becoming inadequate and Father Joseph Schultes saw the need for a bigger building. At this time, the parish membership numbered about 1,570. On May 25, 1938, Bishop Heelan dedicated the new St. John's School, the same building that is still used for St. John's Grade School. From 1900 to 1991, 228 Franciscan sisters have served at St. John's.

In 1915, the old wooden church was moved from its original location to make way for a bigger church to be built. At a cost of $75,000, the present St. John's church was completed in time to have Mass on December 25, 1915.

A new convent was completed in 1955 at a cost of $127,000. A new rectory was built at St. John's in 1958 at a cost of $71,000. The rectory housed parish offices and apartments for three priests and a housekeeper.