Road Trip Around Montana – St John The Evangelist Catholic Church
 | Author:
Brenda Phillips
Brenda Phillips: MT43 News Office Administrator |
Road Trip around Montana – St John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Brenda Phillips
On our Day trip from Townsend to the Boulder Hot Springs we decided to continue on Highway 69 toward White Hall and make a complete circle coming back home. In that beautiful valley, we came upon a pretty old white church sitting back in a pasture about 15 miles southeast of Boulder. The sign said it was St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, so we stopped to get a closer look and some pictures. There is a very well-kept cemetery behind the church with old headstones and a few newer ones. The thing that caught my eye is the white ground around the church. It appears they have spread white quartz rock all around the grounds (and no weeds!). There is a marker that says “. This church remains one of the oldest in Montana where the original structure remains standing. Given in loving memory of Frank and Mary Ellen Carley by their children." The sign on the highway tells us it was built in 1880-1881. We wondered if the church still held services, as it looks very well maintained.
When we got home, I checked on the internet and found a few pictures of the church but not much more information than was on the sign and marker at the church. This statement came from https://www.ultimatemontana.com “St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of North Boulder Valley was hand-built in 1880-1881 by the early settlers of this valley to practice a simple faith they learned as children in Ireland”
We are so blessed here in Montana to have forefathers who built sturdy structures and others who preserved these historic buildings so that we can enjoy them today.
Article Images
Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 1 Caption: St John's Catholic Church in July
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 2 Caption: St John's sign on Highway 69
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 3 Caption: Marker at St John's Church
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 4 Caption: St John's Cemetery with white quartz rock - not snow!
Image 5 Caption: St John's Church in the valley
