St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Saint Paul

This congregation was organized as a mission in 1866 under the leadership of Bishop Thomas Grace, for Irish Catholics living on west side of the Wabasha Bridge, many of whom could not afford the toll required to cross the bridge to attend services in downtown St. Paul.  A church was built on Parnell Street in 1867. by 1883, a new church was dedicated next door to old church, which became the parish school. Five years later, the old building was destroyed by fire, forcing the congregation to hold classes held in basement and sacristy of church until new school built.  

In 1953 the parish moved up the hill above the Flats  to 337 Hurley Ave. E. in West St. Paul, and built a new church and school. 

This earlier church on the Flats stood until the 1970s when it was razed for a housing project.  The tower, however, was preserved, and remains, as the Torre de San Miguel, in a park. 

In 2010 St. Michaels was clustered with St. Matthews, a nearby parish.  In 2016, the Diocese closed the parish. 

Clergy:  Priests from Cathedral 1868-82; Peter J. Gallagher 1882-88; Patrick O’Neill 1888 to WPA.