Taking the advice of Father Martin Kundig of St. Mary's Parish in Detroit, Kopp and Eberhard Platte travelled to the newly established land office in the town of Ionia.

On November 19, the day after he arrived back in Detroit, Kopp visited Bishop Friedrich Reese and was assigned the new German parish.

This appointment has great significance, "It was the beginning of the rural Catholic Church in Michigan," wrote Kopp in his journal.

[1] Built at a total cost of $70,000.00, the old church was dedicated in 1870 and stood for 92 years as a monument to the religious spirit of the Westphalia community.

With a seating capacity of 800 and a steeple height of 156 feet, the church was built in 1867 under the leadership of Father George Godez, successor to Kopp.

Using the aerial ladder unit from Lansing, firemen tried to contain the blaze by hacking holes in the roof and pouring in water, but the flames out-raced them.

A bronze baldachin, which extends from above the crucifix, was added to draw attention to the solemn celebrations performed on the altar below.

A small statue of the Infant of Prague is located between the north transept and the main part of the sanctuary.

Additionally, a hand-crafted statue of the Blessed Mother with the Christ Child was originally erected above the main altar of the old church in 1870, and rescued from the fire in 1959.

(St. George, St. Blaise, St. Erasmus, St. Vitus, St. Pantaleon, St. Christopher, St. Denis, St. Cyriacus, St. Agathius, St. Eustace, St. Giles, St. Margaret, St. Catherine, and St.

On the south side of the back wall hangs the painting commissioned on the 100th Anniversary of St. Mary parish.

The main window found in the back of the church above the choir loft is called "Our New Lady of Westphalia".