Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist

502 North Third Street
King City

The history of the Catholic Church in the Salinas Valley goes back to the early Spanish explorers and missionaries.

St. John the Baptist Church was founded in 1891.  C. H. King donated the land and the original church was built at the corner of Bassett and Russ Streets the same year.  For a time in the 1890’s the parish languished, but found new life in 1900 with a resident pastor and resumption of regular masses.

Four acres were purchased on 3rd Street and the old church and rectory were moved to that new site in 1949.

By August 1949, the new church was completed on 3rd Street.  It was designed by Charles Butner and built by Austin Hayes and Harry Williams of King City.  The first four stained glass windows were installed in 1951.

By 1954, the old church building was remodeled to become the school, and the original rectory was converted to the convent.  By 1958, the new school building was erected, and the older building became the parish hall.

In 1959, Carl Huneke, Century Stained Glass Studio, San Francisco, created and installed the beautiful stained glass windows in the nave, the choir and the baptistry.

As a part of the centennial celebration in 1991, the altar window, St. John the Baptist, was created by Jos Gomolka, Gomolka Design, Escondido.