The tragic loss by fire of St. John the Baptist Church in Johnsburg in early 1900 provided the impetus for the establishment of St. Peter Parish in Spring Grove.

Prior to 1900, when the huge Johnsburg church was destroyed, German Catholics north of that McHenry County city were considered to be part of St. John the Baptist Parish. After the fire, a group of about 30 families, most in Spring Grove, met and agreed that a church at Spring Grove, situated about four-and-one-half miles north of Johnsburg, could be more convenient for them. A committee called on Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan in Chicago and sought his permission to have their own parish. The Archbishop granted permission to start a parish providing the parishioners could find a priest willing to take over as pastor.

Father Clement Duerr (1900-1910), who was about to retire in 1900, agreed to organize the new Spring Grove congregation. He was to serve 10 years before finally retiring. Father Duerr’s niece, Margaret Zugg of Chicago, would eventually donate 10 acres of land to the parish in 1942.

The year 1900 was also the year in which the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad came through Spring Grove, with incorporation as a village following in two years. The Burton Township area had originally been known as Blivins Mills and had been settled back in the early 1840s.

St. Peter Church was constructed a year before Spring Grove became a village. On Candlemas Day, February 2, 1901, the church was dedicated. The rectory was built in the summer of 1902.

The first parish school was a wooden addition to the church. It was completed in 1905 and classes began with lay teachers. Later, in 1915, the Sisters of St. Francis became the teaching staff.

The next parish building project was a convent, completed in 1915 during the pastorate of Father William Dommermuth (1910-1919).

In May of 1919, Father Benno A. Hildebrand (1919-1926) took charge of the parish. His seven year period was marked by repairs to the church and school.

Father Anthony R. Schunicht (1926-1929) expanded the parish property with the purchase of two acres of land and a house situated immediately to the west of the church property. This house became the rectory.

On July 25, 1933, the long and industrious pastorate of Father John L. Daleiden (1933-1960) began. Father Daleiden served the people of St. Peter’s until January 4, 1960.

On April 1, 1948, ground was broken for a new school and renovations on the church were started. A shrine to Our Lady of Fatima was dedicated in 1952. It was also during the years of Father Daleiden’s pastorate that the remodeling of the rectory and convent was accomplished.

Father John J. Kilduff (1965-1988) arrived on June 18, 1965. He inaugurated the first of many improvements when he replaced an old coal-fired steam broiler with a modern gas-fired boiler, thus renovating the entire heating system of the building which served as church, school and parish hall. Another improvement was the installation of a modern kitchen in the parish hall, a project of the Christian Mothers and Holy Name Societies.

At the time, one lay teacher and three Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception staffed the parish school, a four-classroom, eight grade facility. Faced with an acute and growing shortage of teaching sisters, the order withdrew the sisters from Spring Grove in June 1967.

Father Kilduff lost no time in assembling an all lay teaching staff. But enrollment in the once-flourishing school dropped. Parents, parishioners and Father Kilduff decided to close the school in October 1967.

In 1985, the church was completely renovated in the Georgian style. An estimated 88 people, both from the parish and the surrounding community, donated 5,000 hours of time and talent to complete the job two months ahead of schedule. Among many additions, the church was made accessible to the handicapped. A new statue of St. Peter was also installed. Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill rededicated the church on October 13, 1985. Concelebrating with Bishop O’Neill was Father Kilduff.

In 1990, a 15-ton boulder was placed at the entrance to the parish parking lot. A fitting symbol of the parish named in honor of the first head of the Church, Peter, it is inscribed “You are Rock and on this Rock I will build my Church.”

St. Peter’s Preschool was established in 1997 for three and four year olds.

During the pastorate of Father Andrew J. Plesa (1988-2001), a Mass for St. Peter Parish’s centennial celebration took place on June 25, 2000, with Bishop Thomas G. Doran officiating. Bishop Doran also consecrated a new cemetery on the same day.

Father St. Jules (2001-2004) was here for a short time. When parishioners recall his time at St. Peter’s, they recall his soft-spoken manner,quick wit, and genuine empathy for his parishioners.

Father Steven J. Lange (2004-2009) came to St. Peter’s in 2004. He was known for his Corpus Christi processions and his passion for protecting all life, especially that of the unborn. He would attend the March for Life with parishioners in Washington D.C.

Msgr. Joseph Jarmoluk (2009-present) arrived at St. Peter’s in 2009. In his time here, he has kept our parish physically and financially immaculate. He is known for his jovial and loving demeanor, and his spirit filled homilies.  He loves his parishioners and has been a meticulous caretaker of his congregation, overseeing updates to the interior while preserving important historic and architectural features. The most recent being a complete renovation and painting of the interior of the church.