In 1849, Stamford's small Catholic community purchased land, and, on July 4, broke ground for the original church of Saint John the Evangelist on Meadow Street.

The Saint John's School, completed in 1906 and directly behind the new church, was staffed by the Sisters of Mercy and operated until its closure in 1973.

[11] Saint John's Parish had been founded by impoverished Irish Catholic immigrants and over time served a congregation of widening backgrounds.

[13] On July 16, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI raised Saint John's Parish to the dignity and title of Minor Basilica based upon its sanctuary size, historical importance, art and recognition within the Diocese.

The gothic High Altar of white Carrera marble and golden Mexican onyx dates to the church’s opening in 1886.

The three stained-glass windows above the sanctuary, depicting the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, are Dutch in origin and the oldest in the church, dating to 1886.