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| St. John church, 1933 | St. John main altar, 1933 |
St. John, Coylesville
St. John was founded in 1853. However, the origin of the parish can be traced back to the arrival of Irish immigrants to Clearfield Township in 1798. Coylesville itself was not founded until 1830. Until the establishment of St. Patrick parish in Sugar Creek in 1806, the Catholic settlers in Clearfield Township rarely saw a priest. Once St. Patrick was founded, the pastor of that parish visited the area once a month and celebrated Mass in a private home. The other weeks of the month, the residents would have to travel to Sugar Creek to attend Mass.
In 1840, land was purchased for the building of a church. The construction of that church did not begin until 1853. On August 15, 1853, the cornerstone for the new church was laid and the church was completed the next year. In 1855, a resident pastor was assigned to St. John.
This church continues to serve the local Catholic community to this day. Over the years, the original church has been remodeled and renovated. In 1877, the 156 foot tower was added. In 1895, the roof was rebuilt and the altars were installed. The church was renovated again in 1943, in 1969 and 1976.
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| St. John church, 1933 | St. John main altar, 1933 |
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