St. John the Baptist Church has a rich history going back nearly 200 years.

In 1836, the year before Michigan became a state, Ypsilanti was a town of 1000 inhabitants, only 50 of whom were Catholic. 1839 brought the first Catholic church in Ypsilanti, with few families, whose place of worship was open timbers without a roof. It would take another year to complete it, and even then, it would still lack doors, pews, and steps—the entrance formed by an inclined plank.

Over the years, three Ypsilanti parishes have joined with us—St. Alexis, St. Ursula, Holy Trinity Student Chapel at EMU. The parish has grown to more than 600 families. Here, within these walls, a vibrant community of disciples has flourished in their relationships with God. We thank Him for two centuries of deepening the faith, hope, and love of our members, and those whose hearts they have touched. We pray that our confidence in God’s mercy and goodness will be contagious throughout the years to come.

You can read a detailed account of our history here, written by Dennis Zimmer in 2006 and published in Ypsilanti Historical Society's Ypsilanti Gleanings.