Country United States Founded 1841 Opened 1869 | Denomination Roman Catholic Completed 1869 Phone +1 570-622-5470 | |
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Location 913 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, Pennsylvania Address 913 Mahantongo St, Pottsville, PA 17901, USA Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown Archdiocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia People also search for Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church Pottsville, Pennsylvania | ||
St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. It is located at Tenth & Mahantongo Streets. The current structure was built in 1872.
Contents
History
St. John the Baptist Church was founded in 1841 by German Catholic immigrants, mostly from Grossenlueder (a village near Fulda), and the Rhenish Palatinate. The original church at Fourth Street & Howard Avenue was built by the parishioners themselves, many of whom were skilled stonemasons and carpenters. With the influx of German Catholic immigrants into Schuylkill County, the parish soon increased tremendously. In 1869, construction on the present church began, and it was finished in 1872. It towers over the landscape of the western end of Pottsville. In 1878, Father Frederick W. Longinus was appointed rector of the church. Father Longinus was well respected and loved by the parish, where he remained as rector until his death in 1932. In 1905, the original St. John's at Fourth & Howard, which was no longer in use, was sold to the Italian Catholic community, and became St. Joseph's Church.
Points of interest
Included in the present St. John's are priceless stained glass windows by the German artisan Wilhelm Derrix. These windows are valued to be worth over two million dollars. Also included in the church are valuable statues imported from Germany over 100 years ago.
Cemetery
The original cemetery, which dates back to the founding of the parish in 1841, is located at 8th & Pierce Streets. Unfortunately, many of the inscriptions on the headstones are worn away and barely visible. The present cemetery, located at 20th & Mahantongo Streets, however, is in excellent condition. In the center of the cemetery is a large crucifix, which stands over the grave of the beloved Fr. Longinus. A plaque at the base of the crucifix reads: "Es ist ein Heilger und Heilsamer gedanke, fuer die Verstorbenen zu beten auf dass Sie von Ihren Suenden erloest werden"
The inscription comes from the Books of Maccabees, and was inscribed to remind parishioners to pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.