About St. Michael Parish, Ripley

The beginnings of St. Michael Parish can be traced to 1833-36 when several Catholic families settled in and near Ripley. Mass was occasionally celebrated in the Michael Walters and Joseph Helbling homes. In 1840, the first church was erected on ground donated by Michael Waters on the east side of North Main Street and dedicated on June 19, 1842 by Archbishop Purcell in honor of St. John the Baptist. Early missionary priests served Ripley for many years, In 1858, the first resident priest came to live in Ripley, Reverend H. Boecker, a native of Germany.

The second church was in the present parish hall. The cost of this structure was $5,000.00. The interior was comprised of one large room with a reed organ. After the present church building was erected, this building became and is still used as the school cafeteria as well as for meetings and social gatherings.

The third and present church building was dedicated to God under the patronage of St. Michael by Archbishop William Elder on June 21, 1890. This church was designed after the St. Michael Church in Schonau/Pfalz, Germany. The architecture is Roman in design and the Roman numerals MDCCCLXXXIX are chiseled in the plain cornerstone. The dimensions are 90 feet long by 45 feet wide and there is a tower 120 feet high. A cast bronze bell, weighing 1037 pounds was installed and rung by hand with a rope until 1956 when it was electrified.

Sometime between 1904 and 1922, the beautiful paintings which adorn the walls and dome of the sanctuary were done by a German artist by the name of Theodore Brasch.

In 1984, extensive repair and redecorating began on the church. A new plastered ceiling was installed. The entire body of the church was repainted, decorative woodwork and moldings were used in the sanctuary and on the doors. Artistic stenciling and repair of all paintings in the church was done by Fred Anderson of Ripley.

The faith community that began in 1833 continues to flourish. Today the parish consists of approximately 240 families. St. Michael School, in the current building since 1924, is the only Catholic school in Brown County and continues to provide quality education with a solid faith foundation.

Still active in the parish are Knights of Columbus, Rosary Altar Society, PTO, School Committee, Finance, Worship and Education Commissions and a Pastoral Council. In addition, the parish offers a Family Religious Education Program for students who do not attend a Catholic school, as well as RCIA, a program for anyone interested in learning more about the

Catholic Faith. St. Michael also hosts a chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, serving the needy in the area.

St. Michael enjoyed its own pastor until 2001 when St. George, Georgetown and St. Michael, Ripley became sister parishes and shared a pastor. Beginning in 2009, St. Mary Arnheim joined the other two parishes and all three are currently served by Fr. Amberger.