St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (Delphos, Ohio) records

The history of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church began in 1842 when the first of the Catholic settlers came from Germany and began settling in the area of Delphos. In 1844, Father John Otto Bredeick became the pastor to the Catholics. He held mass in a log cabin. During this time he purchased ninety-two acres of government land and he began platting it into lots and streets, this included setting aside land for the church. In 1846, the first church was built. In 1853, the need for a larger church was realized and a larger and more modern church was built.

In 1872, fire swept through Delphos, destroying a large part of the town, including the pioneer log chapel and frame school. In 1880, the parish's third and present church was completed.

Over the years the parish experienced steady growth. The parish began with several hundred parishioners and now has over six thousand members. To accommodate this growth the church has been renovated and remodeled.

Mossing, Lawrence A. S.T.D. History of the Diocese of Toledo. Northern Ohio - West Section Missionary and Parish History. Diocese of Toledo. Toledo, Ohio. 1984. Pages 32 - 39.