1870: St Joseph Church Started

St. Joseph’s in Biddeford ME was established as a parish on May 13, 1870 by a decree from Bishop Bacon, Bishop of Portland. The parish was founded to meet the spiritual needs of the many French Canadians who were migrating from Quebec to the Biddeford area at the end of the 19th century.

The first building to house St. Joseph Church was the former Methodist church, located at the corners of Alfred and Bacon streets (the present sight of the Biddeford Police Department). In 1873 having outgrown its first facility, the parish purchased land on Emery's Court (present site of the church on Elm Street). Construction of this imposing and superb neo-Gothic structure began. In 1883, with ceremonies never before seen this great temple dedicated to the glory of God. For almost one hundred years St. Joseph's church was the tallest building in the state of Maine.

Among the recognized treasures housed in this grand building is a classic Hook and Hastings tracker organ (c.1880) and stained glass windows designed by the famous Mayer studio in Munich, Germany.