The St. Patrick Preservation Fund
Dedicated to protecting and preserving St. Patrick’s Church, rectory and cemeteries
located at 1908 State Highway 83 Town of Erin, Hartford, WI 53027
The long-honored tradition of Mass on St. Patrick’s Day at historic St. Patrick’s Church returns, marking the revival of a cherished celebration that has been absent for the past decade.
The March 17, 2026, 9 a.m. Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Andrew Linn of St Kilian Parish in Hartford, joined by Deacon Mike Dunn of Holy Family Parish in Whitefish Bay and others who have participated in this annual tradition in the past. All are warmly welcome to attend.
Founded and dedicated in 1855 by Irish immigrants, St Patrick’s Church has stood for more than 170 years at 1908 State Hwy. 83 as one of the most beloved landmarks in the town of Erin. Throughout its history, the church has survived numerous close calls—from a massive pine tree that narrowly missed the building by inches, to soot damage from a malfunctioning furnace, to a harrowing tornado in 2006 and even thieves who were unexpectedly apprehended when the sheriff happened to be driving by. Each incident has further cemented the church’s reputation for perseverance—and perhaps a touch of Irish luck.
The Tuesday, March 17, celebration in honor of the Feast of St Patrick will include Irish music and a special welcome from St Patrick himself, greeting guests at the front doors. Visitors may even receive a bit of Irish luck—and a selfie.
Over the past year, substantial improvements have been made to the church, rectory, and surrounding grounds, restoring the property to its original beauty and honoring its Catholic heritage. Volunteers have cleaned and polished the interior, highlighting the church’s exceptional stained-glass windows and iconic steeple that has long defined the Erin town center.
For those who cannot attend a live stream will be available at: https://www.youtube.com/live/TRGIMCzZ89s
The St. Patrick Preservation Fund is a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to protecting and preserving St. Patrick’s Church, rectory and cemeteries located at 1908 State Highway 83, in the Town of Erin (Thompson), Hartford, Wisconsin 53027.
St. Patrick’s Church was built in 1855 by Irish immigrants and is one of few churches in Wisconsin built in the shape of a cross, which adds to its historic significance. The original interior of St. Patrick Church has been preserved for over 170 years. Beautiful statutes of St. Patrick and of the Blessed Mother were donated in 1883 and the 1,000-lb. bell and stained glass windows were added in 1904. The St. Patrick grounds also include two cemeteries, Old St. Patrick Cemetery established in 1850 and an additional cemetery site added in 1959 on St. Patrick's Lane.
St. Patrick’s Parish was merged with St. Kilian’s Parish in Hartford, Wisconsin on July 1, 1999, with a promise of special occasion Masses allowed at St. Patrick’s Church. These special occasion Masses included weddings, anniversaries, funerals and an Annual Mass on St. Patrick’s Feast Day on March 17.
The first meeting of the St. Patrick Preservation Group was held on June 2, 1999. In March of 2000, St. Patrick Church was named to the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation's list of one of the ten most endangered historic properties in the State of Wisconsin due to the possibility of its destruction.
On June 30, 2000, St. Patrick Preservation Fund, Inc. was established to assist in the preservation of the history and activities of St. Patrick Church. It has also been our goal to work with the Milwaukee Archdiocese in whatever way possible to find an acceptable Catholic use for St. Patrick's Church and assist in whatever way possible in the maintenance of the church, cemeteries, rectory and grounds of St. Patrick’s Church for the benefit of past, present and future generations not only in the United States but also in Ireland.
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Preserve Our Historical Site
St. Patrick was closed in 1999, hurting the hearts of many dedicated parishioners and town residents. Our mission now is to preserve this 170-year-old historical site and develop a viable Catholic use for the buildings that will enhance the community and foster an understanding of the importance that all faith communities have on public life.
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