The church is located in the unincorporated village of Holbrook, east of Parnell, Iowa, United States.

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Michael's Church, Cemetery, Rectory, and Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall in 1983.

Thomas Hanson, one of those settlers, brought the priest from Iowa City in his lumber wagon and Mass was celebrated in his home.

The former rectory sits across the highway from the church and the former Hibernian Hall is across the cemetery to the west.

Mathias Hannon, who came to Holbrook from St. Mary's in Iowa City for the first time in 1853, described the church thus, "I said mass within before the floor was laid, had the beautiful snow for carpet, and a pine box for an altar in fact a place as forlorn as the stable wherein the Savior was born.

At the time, St. Joseph's in Parnell was a mission to St. Michael's, and Davis built both the school and church there.

The people of Holbrook considered the transfer a demotion seeing as St. Margaret's was a smaller parish.

As the 20th century progressed the rural population of Iowa decreased, and the Holbrook area was no different.

Toward the end of the century St. Michael's was clustered with other parishes in the area and served by a single priest.

Finally, on March 28, 1996, Bishop William Franklin announced in The Catholic Messenger that St. Michael's would close by the end of June.

Richard Okumu of St. Peter's parish in Cosgrove was placed in charge of pastoral management for corporate affairs.