Saint John Roman Catholic Church, located at 622 Main Street in Center Benwood, was officially established as a parish on August 1, 1875 when the first resident pastor, Rev. Patrick F. McKernan, was appointed to serve the Roman Catholic residents of Benwood. Prior to 1875, the original church, which had been constructed about 1868 and was dedicated to Saint John, was served by visiting priests from surrounding parishes. The original church was damaged in the Ohio River Flood of February 1884. As a result, the church was demolished, and a new church was built on the same site between 1891 and 1892. The cornerstone for the second church was laid on June 28, 1891. The second church served the parish for one hundred and twenty-four years until it was destroyed by a fire on March 30, 2015. The 1891 church, along with the rectory, was demolished between May 2015 and August 2015. Ground was broken for the third Saint John Church on June 28, 2016. The new church was constructed on the same site as the 1891 church. Construction was completed in the summer of 2017. The new church was blessed and dedicated on September 9, 2017. The first regular Sunday Mass was celebrated in the new church on September 17, 2017.
Saint John Roman Catholic Church, located at 622 Main Street in Center Benwood, was officially established as a parish on August 1, 1875 when the first resident pastor, Rev. Patrick F. McKernan, was appointed to serve the Roman Catholic residents of Benwood. Prior to 1875, ,the original church which had been constructed about 1868 and was dedicated to Saint John, was served by visiting priests from surrounding parishes. The original church was damaged in the Ohio River Flood of February 1884. As a result, the church was demolished, and a new church was built on the same site between 1891 and 1892. The cornerstone for the second church was laid on June 28, 1891. The second church served the parish for one hundred and twenty-four years until it was destroyed by a fire on March 30, 2015. The 1891 church, along with the rectory, was demolished between May 2015 and August 2015. Ground was broken for the third Saint John Church on June 28, 2016. The new church was constructed on the same site as the 1891 church. Construction was completed in the summer of 2017. The new church was blessed and dedicated on September 9, 2017. The first regular Sunday Mass was celebrated in the new church on September 17, 2017.