St. John Church history

Interested in the stained glass windows of St. John Church? Downloadable pamphlet here.

Church History
The number of Catholics in Bangor had rapidly increased due to the vast immigration of Irish, from a couple hundred in the 1830’s to about 6,000 in 1853. St. Michael's Church on Court Street was just too small to accommodate the parishioners. In 1853, Rev. John Bapst, S.J. was named pastor of St. Michael’s Church on Court Street and the missions in the surrounding Bangor area.

The cornerstone for St. John’s Catholic Church was laid on August 15, 1855. The church on York Street sits on land where the first settler of Bangor, Jacob Buswell, lived. Its design was the work of New York architect Patrick Charles Keeley. Placed under the stone is a bottle encasing a piece of tarred, feathered, and bloodstained cassock which belonged to Rev. John Bapst, S.J., the pastor of St. John’s. Father Bapst celebrated the first Mass in the basement of the church on Christmas Eve, 1855. Construction of the church continued through the following spring and summer and was dedicated on October 12, 1856 by the Most Rev. David W. Bacon D.D. Bishop of Portland.

In 1859, the bishop proposed that the Jesuits relinquish Bangor and restrict themselves to missionary work. In 1860, shortly before his pastorate ended, Father John Bapst commissioned the magnificent Opus 288 organ from the Boston builders E.& G.G. Hook. Soon after his departure for Boston, his successor, Rev. Henry Gillen signed the contract. In December 1860, a steamer left Boston Harbor and headed for Bangor carrying the organ for St. John’s Catholic Church. Two weeks later the organ was installed at St. John's Catholic Church.

In 1873, the spire of St. John’s was erected. In the same year, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery was consecrated by the Most Rev. David W. Bacon.

In 1882, Father McSweeney built the parochial residence on land overlooking the Penobscot River, at York and Boyd Streets, adjoining the church.

In 1887, St. John’s was greatly beautified in its interior by the artistic decoration of its walls and ceilings in rich colorings and in sculptures of the Stations of the Cross and famous Tyrolean stained glass windows were installed. The twenty windows depict the life of Jesus. In this year also, the bell was blessed by Bishop James Healy and placed in the steeple.

In 1906, on the 50^th anniversary of the dedication of St. John’s, the bronze and onyx rails to the left and right of the altar were installed. The marble floors were laid and the church was wired for electric lighting.

In 1952, the outside of St. John’s Church was cleaned and re-pointed, and a year later, the interior of the church was completely renovated and redecorated.

In 1973, St. John’s Catholic Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

It took 119 years for the Jesuits to return to Bangor. On July 1, 1978, at the invitation of Bishop Edward O’Leary, the Jesuit Provincial sent three men, Father Raymond P. Bertrand, S.J.; Father Thomas Lequin, S.J.; and Father James E. Morgan, S.J. to work in the church that Father John Bapst, S.J. built and named.

St. John’s Church celebrated its 125^th Anniversary with several activities including a very special Mass on June 6, 1981, when Father Frank John Murray was ordained to the priesthood in his local parish church. The Hook organ was restored in 1981.

In 1988, a major restoration project was started at St. John’s to maintain, repair and refurbish the church and rectory, under the direction of Rev. Maurice Lebel. Monies were raised through a capital campaign.

In the year 2000, the Jubilee Mass was celebrated at the Bangor Auditorium, a truly inspiring event for our Catholic community.