About St. John the Baptist (Clyde) · Clyde, Kansas
St. John the Baptist Parish is a small-town Roman Catholic parish in Clyde, Kansas, founded in 1880 by French-Canadian families who had earlier settled the area. It belongs to the Diocese of Salina and is currently pastored by Fr. Andrew Rockers, who also serves the mission parish of St. Mary of the Assumption in nearby Clifton. The parish offers a Saturday vigil Mass, Sunday morning Mass, weekday liturgies, regular confessions, midweek Eucharistic adoration, and religious education for area families. Its current church building was completed in 1976 and incorporates stained-glass windows and Stations of the Cross from the earlier brick church.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Andrew Rockers
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salina
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a welcoming small-town parish with deep roots in the Clyde community going back to the French-Canadian Catholic families of 1868. Worshippers enjoy a full sacramental life — six Masses a week, daily opportunities for Confession on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and Eucharistic adoration every Wednesday morning. Families benefit from on-site religious education, and the parish complex itself (built in 1976) houses a parish hall, kitchen, and classrooms that keep parish life close to the liturgy.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist (Clyde)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
- Friday 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Parish History
St. John the Baptist Parish traces its origins to 1868, when Father Joseph Rimmele first visited the Clyde area and found 16 Catholic families, most of them French-Canadian. After 1873, Father Louis Mollier ministered to these families from St. Joseph, six miles south, and oversaw construction of the first church in Clyde in 1880. The first priest appointed to the new parish arrived in 1883, and Father Mollier retired from pastoral duties in 1908, living in Clyde until his death in 1911.
- 1868 — Father Joseph Rimmele first visits Clyde area, finds 16 Catholic families (mostly French-Canadian).
- After 1873 — Father Louis Mollier ministers from St. Joseph, six miles south.
- 1880 — First church built in Clyde.
- 1883 — First priest appointed to the new parish.
- 1908 — Father Mollier retires; dies in Clyde in 1911.
St. Ann's Academy and the Parish School
Father Joseph Leonard, who arrived in Clyde in 1885, hoped to establish Clyde as a center of Catholic higher education. He personally financed most of the construction of what he envisioned as St. Ann's Academy. When that dream failed to materialize, the building opened in 1889 as a parochial school, served briefly as the diocesan orphanage from 1910 to 1915, and then continued as a parish grade school until 1969.
- 1885 — Father Joseph Leonard begins building St. Ann's Academy.
- 1889 — Building opens as a parochial school.
- 1910–1915 — Operates as the diocesan orphanage.
- 1969 — Parish grade school closes.
Church Buildings
The original frame church, built in 1880, burned in 1904. A replacement brick church was begun but completion was delayed by difficulties between the architect and the contractor. In 1968, parishioners voted to build a new parish complex and began raising funds; the school and church were razed in 1975 and the new complex — housing the church, parish hall, kitchen, multipurpose room, and classrooms — was completed in 1976. The stained-glass windows and Stations of the Cross from the previous brick church were preserved and installed in the new worship space.
- 1880 — Original frame church built.
- 1904 — Frame church burns.
- Brick church completed after delays between architect and contractor.
- 1975 — Old school and church razed.
- 1976 — New parish complex completed; stained glass and Stations of the Cross from the old church are installed in the new worship space.
Parish Leadership
The parish is currently served by Fr. Andrew Rockers, who is pastor of both St. John the Baptist in Clyde and the mission parish of St. Mary of the Assumption in nearby Clifton. Notable pastors of the past include Father Louis Mollier (the founding shepherd), Father Joseph Leonard (who built St. Ann's Academy/parish school), and Father Henry Spoorenberg, a Dutch-born priest who served Clyde from 1916 to 1951 and was named a monsignor in 1956.
- Fr. Andrew Rockers — current pastor; also serves St. Mary of the Assumption, Clifton.
- Father Henry Spoorenberg — served 1916–1951; named monsignor 1956.
Religious Education and Parish Life
St. John the Baptist provides religious education for families in the Clyde area, using the classrooms in its 1976 parish complex. The same building also contains a parish hall and kitchen that support community gatherings and parish events.
- Religious education for area families
- Parish hall and kitchen available for community gatherings
Mission Parish: St. Mary of the Assumption, Clifton
St. John the Baptist shares its pastor, Fr. Andrew Rockers, with St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in nearby Clifton, listed by the Diocese of Salina as the Clyde parish's mission parish.
- St. Mary of the Assumption Parish – Clifton (mission parish)
Visiting and Contact
The parish is located at 204 N. High Street in Clyde, Kansas, and can be reached by phone at (785) 446-3474. The parish website is cliftonclydecatholic.com, and an active Facebook page keeps parishioners and visitors informed of schedules and events.
- Address: 204 N. High Street, Clyde, KS 66938
- Phone: (785) 446-3474
- Website: https://www.cliftonclydecatholic.com
- Facebook: St. John the Baptist Church – Clyde, KS
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Rimmele1868 (first visit to Clyde area)
Stationed at St. Mary's Indian Mission east of Manhattan; found 16 Catholic families, mostly French-Canadians.
- Father Louis MollierAfter 1873–1908
Tended to Catholics in Clyde from St. Joseph, six miles south; oversaw construction of the first church in 1880. Retired 1908; died in Clyde 1911.
- First priest appointed to new parish1883
Arrived three years after the first church was built.
- Father Joseph Leonard1885–
Built what he hoped would become St. Ann's Academy; paid for most construction himself. Opened as a parochial school in 1889.
- Father Henry Spoorenberg1916–1951
Native of the Netherlands; named a monsignor in 1956.
- Fr. Andrew RockersCurrent
Current pastor; also serves the mission parish of St. Mary of the Assumption in Clifton.