Historic Wisconsin parish loses roof during severe weather outbreak

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in East Bristol has stood in the community for over 130 years.

A historic parish in rural Wisconsin suffered major damages amid severe weather in the region on April 14 after strong storms and possibly a tornado destroyed much of the roof of the church building.

St. Joseph Catholic Church in East Bristol lost roughly half of its roof during the weather incident. Photos showed huge portions of the parish roof peeled off, exposing the churchʼs attic and rafters below.

The region has experienced multiple nights of severe storm outbreaks including severe winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes.

Local news reports said tornadoes had been reported in the East Bristol area just after midnight on April 14. The area was under a tornado warning at the time the parish roof was destroyed, though it wasnʼt clear if a tornado was itself responsible for the destruction.

The parish did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the damage. On the parishʼs Facebook page, meanwhile, a post claimed that a tornado had hit the church. Images showed destruction inside the church including insulation piled up near the altar and a light fixture in a pew.

A listing on the Wisconsin Historical Society website says the parish was completed in 1890 and designed by local Swiss-American architect Henry Messmer.

Built in the early Gothic Revival manner, the building has seen several additions in the roughly 130 years since it was built, including in 1965 and 2024.

The parish is part of the Diocese of Madison. A press release from the diocese  said the diocesan office of buildings, construction, and real estate was responding to the incident, along with the insurer Catholic Mutual Group.

“St. Joseph Church has served generations of Catholics in northeast Dane County, and we are heartbroken by the devastation,” the diocese said. “We ask for your prayers as we assess the damage.”