St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is the spiritual heart of Hubbardston and one of the most significant historic structures in Ionia County. The current Gothic Revival wood-frame building was constructed in 1868-69 at a cost of $8,000, built entirely by Irish immigrant labor. Seating approximately 700, it is the largest church in the county. The parish was formally organized in 1855 to serve seven Irish Catholic families, with the first church built on John Cowman's farm on Section 11 in 1857. The current structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 2001, and designated a Michigan State Historic Site on January 18 of that year. The church is now clustered with St. Mary Parish in Carson City. Its soaring architecture, stained glass windows, and deep roots in the Irish immigrant community make it a must-see historic site in central Michigan.