About St. John the Baptist · Tuscaloosa, Alabama
St. John the Baptist in Tuscaloosa is the oldest Catholic parish in the city and the mother church of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. Founded in 1844 and dedicated in 1846, its historic downtown church is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. Today St. John’s serves as a mission church of the Parish of the Holy Spirit, sharing pastoral care with the larger parish family. After closing for COVID-19 safety and suffering a 2021 ceiling collapse, the building reopened in January 2026 following a major restoration.
- Established
- 1844
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Msgr. Michael Deering
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
Why belong here
St. John’s offers a rare chance to worship in Alabama’s oldest Catholic church building, connect with a parish whose roots reach back to Tuscaloosa’s founding, and join a community that recently came together to restore a beloved landmark.
History
St. John the Baptist Parish grew from a small group of Catholics meeting in Tuscaloosa as early as 1819. The parish was formally established in 1844, the church was built in 1845, and Bishop Michael Portier dedicated it on January 25, 1846.
- 1819 — Catholics begin meeting in Tuscaloosa.
- 1844 — Parish established in January.
- 1846 — Church dedicated under the patronage of St. John the Baptist.
- 1975 — Added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
- 1971 — Became a mission of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
- 2026 — Reopened after major restoration.
Restoration and Reopening
The historic church closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and was further damaged when its plaster ceiling collapsed in August 2021. A community-led restoration repaired the ceiling, roof, flooring, and interior, and the church held an open house in January 2026.
- Closed for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Ceiling collapsed in August 2021.
- Restoration included a new roof, exterior paint, ceiling repair, and new HVAC.
- Reopened with an open house on January 18, 2026.
Visiting
St. John the Baptist is located in downtown Tuscaloosa. Because it is a mission church, administrative offices and regular weekday operations are handled at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
- Address: 800 Lurleen B. Wallace Blvd. N., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
- Parish office: 733 James I. Harrison Jr. Pkwy E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
- Office phone: (205) 553-9733
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:00 pm (closed noon–1:00 pm)
Pastoral Care
St. John’s is a mission church of the Parish of the Holy Spirit in Tuscaloosa. Pastoral leadership and parish administration are shared with Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
- Mission church of the Parish of the Holy Spirit since 1971.
- Pastor: Msgr. Michael Deering (per published parish history).