St. John's Catholic Church, Worcester

Saint John's Catholic Church holds the distinction of being the oldest Roman Catholic parish in Worcester, and the oldest in New England outside of Boston. It was a spiritual home for the Irish immigrants who came to the Worcester area in the 1820s to build railroads and the Blackstone Canal.

The current church was constructed and dedicated in 1846. Its design resembles that of a Baptist or Puritan church, which may cause some visitors to mistake it for a Protestant building. The church's exterior has remained largely unchanged since its completion, with brick walls and a steeple that has been in place since 1951. This historical structure was recognized for its significance when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980.

Inside, the church's walls have been repainted several times, most recently in 2005. The sanctuary is a testament to traditional Roman Catholic architecture, featuring a high altar at the center, with the Blessed Sacrament housed in the original Romanesque Tridentine Mass altar. The layout includes a pulpit to the left and the presider's chair to the right.

Devotional shrines, such as one dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, enhance the spiritual ambiance. Additionally, statues of saints like Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Theresa often grace the church, while the baptistry dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary is prominently positioned on the right.