06/04/2026
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST — DELPHOS, OHIO
Founded in 1844, St. John the Evangelist is more than one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Northwest Ohio—it is one of the institutions around which the city of Delphos itself was built.
The story begins with Fr. John Otto Bredeick, a German missionary priest who helped bring Catholic settlers to the area and establish what would become the Delphos community. In the decades that followed, the parish became the spiritual, educational, and social center of the growing settlement.
The parish endured hardships that would have destroyed many young communities. During the cholera epidemic of 1854, much of the population either fled or perished. Fr. Bredeick remained, ministering to the sick and dying while helping hold the community together through one of the darkest chapters in its history.
Education was a priority from the beginning. Long before modern school buildings existed, children were being taught in parish facilities and temporary classrooms. Over the generations, St. John’s expanded its commitment to Catholic education, building schools that helped form thousands of students in both faith and learning.
The current church, completed in the late nineteenth century, remains one of the most recognizable Catholic landmarks in the region. Its soaring spire, striking stone exterior, and cathedral-like interior stand as a testament to the faith and sacrifice of the generations who built it.
For more than 180 years, St. John the Evangelist has served as a place of worship, a center of Catholic education, and a cornerstone of the Delphos community.
The parish has changed over time. The town has changed over time.
But the mission remains the same.
To proclaim Christ, form disciples, and pass the faith to the next generation.
One thing that sets St. John’s apart is its commitment to preserving its own history. Few parishes in our area have documented their story in such detail. Because of that effort, generations of parishioners can still learn about the priests, families, students, and events that helped shape both the parish and the city of Delphos.
But no archive is ever complete.
If you have a connection to St. John’s—through Mass, school, sports, family, weddings, funerals, or memories—share it below. Stories, photographs, newspaper clippings, family records, or little-known facts all help preserve the history of this parish for future generations.
