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Our History
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On June 20, 1853, Father Adelbert Inama celebrated the first Holy Mass in our parish’s history in a newly erected log church in Cross Plains, or Berry as it was called at the time. Father Inama, a Norbertine monk from Wilton in the Tyrol, came to Sauk Prairie on November 25, 1845. He settled near the Wisconsin River, between Roxbury and Sauk City. He had been doing missionary work in the east for several years when Archbishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee invited him to come to the Wisconsin territory. In a letter dated February 14, 1853, Father Inama writes: “Seven miles south in the towns of Cross Plains and Middleton is situated a third mission district, consisting of thirty-three families, all of whom are farmers from Cologne, largely immigrants of last year. A benefactor has donated fifteen acres of land for a church and a priest, on which land the people have constructed a church this winter. They wish to have it ready for divine service by Easter, at which time I shall consecrate it. The community is in a state of lively development.” The third district of which he wrote is the present Saint Francis Xavier (and Saint Mary’s of Pine Bluff).
Interesting facts about the original church include that the shingles were handmade, and the mill work was bought in Sauk City. The church was 36 feet long and 20 feet wide. The bare ground served as the floor until November of 1854. The ceiling was of open construction and left so until 1856. At first, there were no pews. Sawed-off ends of logs served as seats until January of 1857, when they finally installed pews. This log church was used until around 1870.
According to parish records, Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School was established on June 7, 1857. The first class was held in a building on neighboring property and was originally taught by a single teacher. The first one room school on parish property was built in 1859, at which time our first religious sister was engaged to run the school. In 1866, a two-story addition was added to provide an extra classroom and living quarters for the sisters.
The first rectory, a temporary log structure, was built immediately upon the arrival of the first pastor, Father Conrad, in October of 1854. In the spring of 1855, a frame house was attached.
Eventually, as the congregation continued to grow, there was need for a new church. In 1866 plans were developed to build this new church, and it was scheduled to be completed within four months. Unfortunately, due to a host of factors, the work took much longer than expected and construction wasn’t finished until 1874. It would be another 6 years, however, before the belltower was completed, and in 1886 two bells were purchased and hung in the tower.
In 1907 a proper convent was built for the sisters, and the rectory was completed in 1909.
A new school was built in 1924; a brick structure with four classrooms, an auditorium, and a basement. In 1957, an addition was made on to the school. The auditorium was converted into four classrooms, and a kitchen and a gymnasium were added.
On July 20, 1972, the parish encountered one of the darkest moments in its history when a fire destroyed the beautiful century old church. Fortunately, firefighters were able to save the rectory and the convent. Following this devastation, Holy Masses and other celebrations were held in the school gymnasium until a new church could be built.
Construction of the new (and present) church was completed on October 10, 1974, and the church was dedicated on November 3, 1974 by Bishop Cletus O’Donnell.
In 1989, the remaining religious sisters moved out of the parish convent and the building was repurposed as a “Pastoral Ministry Center,” which housed several parish offices. In 2004, the convent/Pastoral Ministry Center was razed to make room for the current parish offices and fellowship hall, which were completed in 2005.
In May of 2006, construction began on an addition to the church parking lot behind the church. An athletic field was also built at this time, and the remaining land was reserved for a future school site if needed.
The present church sanctuary was remodeled in 2007, and in December of 2021 a new stained-glass window was installed above the altar in honor of Sister John Rose Acker. -
