As they began a new life in a strange land, immigrants sought refuge in the few familiar things that reminded them of home. One place where they could hear the language of home and enjoy the fellowship of familiar people with similar beliefs was at church.
Early settlers turned to their congregations for comfort in a life that could be strange and sometimes difficult. Early congregations were often established by groups of immigrants who wanted churches like the ones they'd left back home. Often, groups met in homes or public buildings until congregations grew and could raise enough funds for a church. The pioneers would walk for miles to attend a church where they felt at home.
Catholic churches in the area began with St. Stephen parish in the early 1850's, when the tide of Catholic settlers came. The new arrivals were largely Irish immigrants.
The Rev. John Polak, a Polish nobleman, came to Portage County in 1860 and asked his friends in Poland to follow. He is considered largely responsible for directing the flow of Polish settlers to the area. Many of the early Polish families attended St. Peter Catholic Church. About 50 families began the church in June of 1876. It was then the fourth Catholic church in the area.
As the Polish population grew, the need for more room led to the creation of St. Stanislaus parish. In 1916 the church opened its doors as an off-shoot of St. Peter church.
Norwegian settlers gathered for worship at the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. The church, which began in 1874, became today's Trinity Lutheran Church.
Life was often difficult for the settlers, and churches provided a source of community and strength. As settlers became more Americanized, churches began conducting services in English.
Generations later, today's church-goers are people of almost any heritage. But some local churches still have strong ties to their founders. As of the mid-1980s, about 80 to 98 percent of the congregation of several area churches were still people of Polish decent, according to a study cited by the Stevens Point Journal on March 27, 1985. The highest percentages were found in St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Mill Creek, St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Fancher, and St. Mary Church, Torun. About 40 to 60 percent of those congregations still speak fluent Polish, according to the study.
Several churches that originally had a large Polish population now have fewer Polish members because of redistricting of parishes.
Throughout the years, other churches that opened drew from all nationalities.