Controlled Demolition Scheduled for St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein

A controlled demolition has been scheduled for the remaining structure of St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein following the recent west wall collapse and continued concerns that the church tower could fall onto State Route 119.

Structural engineers have determined that demolition is necessary to protect public safety due to the instability of the remaining structure.

According to officials, a demolition crew will arrive Friday, January 2, to begin setting up equipment. The controlled demolition is scheduled to begin Saturday, January 3, and is expected to take approximately two days, continuing through the weekend.

Crews will make efforts to preserve the church’s front entrance façade and decorative stonework where possible. Debris removal will take place at a later date following the demolition phase.

Officials say the site has been cleared for environmental hazards and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Dust is expected during demolition activities, and nearby residents will be directly notified by FIRST ONSITE on Friday with additional information.

State Route 119 remains impacted in the area, and motorists should expect continued restrictions. All church parking lots and surrounding areas remain closed and blocked off. The public is urged not to enter restricted zones due to ongoing safety risks.

Further updates will be released as demolition work progresses.