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Parish HistorySt. John the Baptist Parish is onee of the oldest parishes in the Diocese
of Rockford. Our journey of faith began on August 2, 1841, when three young men,
who had immigrated from their German homeland, arrived on the banks of the Fox
River. They had left their families behind in Chicago as they searched for a
place to settle that had adequate land for raising crops and where they could
establish their homes. The first church was built of logss measuring 20¢x28¢ in size. As more families joined the parish, it became necessary in 1850 to construct a larger 33¢x75¢ frame church building. In 1867, a third building was begun - a larger brick building of Gothic architecture 50¢x133¢ like that remembered by those from their German homeland. On February 18, 1900, the church was totally destroyed by fire. The present church was completed in 1902 and renovated in 1978 to its present form. A plaque located outside the building to the left of the main doors commemorates the church building receiving Landmark status in 1984, by the McHenry County Historical Society. THE
PRESENT CHURCH BUILDING
The
church building we worship in today was patterned after the North German Gothic
architectural style. The floor of the church was laid out in the form of a cross
with the room widening near the altar and narrowing at the front doors. The
distance from the Narthex to the rear of the Sanctuary is 150¢,
with 65¢
at the widest section tapering down to 45¢
at the narrowest section. The large dome near the center of the building is 45¢
high from floor to ceiling. The steeple of the church rises 159¢
above the ground. The magnificent stained glass windows were
brought from Germany and portray scenes from the life of Christ and the saints.
On the west side of the church is a picture of the Angel of God banishing Adam
and Eve from the Garden of Eden, representing God's Creation and the Fall of
Man. On the east side, the Nativity scene inspires hope as it portrays the birth
of our Savior, who came into the world to redeem sinners. Other stained glass
windows depict St. Anne, the mother of Our Lady; the Sacred Heart; St. Jude; St.
Vincent de Paul; St. Hubert; Jesus and Peter on the water; the Holy Family; and
Jesus giving Peter the Keys to the Kingdom. Also
brought from Germany were the four beautiful and inspiring murals. In the
Sanctuary we see John the Baptist baptizing Jesus and the Resurrection scene.
Above the confessionals we see the Prodigal Son and Mary Magdalene. The three bells inside the bell tower were made in St. Louis, Missouri. The largest of these is 47² in diameter, forged of solid bronze and weighs 3,500 pounds.
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