In the village of North Collins, there were two separate but devout groups of Catholics; both considered missions of other Catholic parishes until after 1900. Services were held in various facilities until churches were built. St. John the Baptist Parish was organized in 1902. Prior to construction of a church, services were held in the upstairs ballroom of the Haberer Hotel (currently North Collins Hotel). Services were also held for some time in a building (since torn down) where the current North Collins Fire Department is located. The membership was made up of about 25 families, mostly of German origin. By 1944, church membership consisted of approximately 60 families of German, Polish, Italian and Irish origin. 

On June 2, 1902, local families pledged contributions for construction of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Brant Street, just west of the village for English speaking families in North Collins and surrounding area, with construction completed in 1904. Parish boundaries were roughly halfway between North Collins and surrounding towns—Langford, Gowanda, Brant and Eden. After the church was built, a large horse shed was built for use by people coming from a distance. Previously they had left their horses and buggies in the village and walked to church.

In the early years of the parish, a bazaar/fair was run for four consecutive days in late summer or fall to offset church debt. It included concerts, plays, booths, suppers, dancing, minstrel shows, bowling and other entertainment. St. John’s Church had an Altar Society, which took care of the sanctuary. In 1905, a lot of about 1 ½ acres at the corner of Shirley Road and Gowanda State Road was acquired for St. John’s cemetery from Albert and Sally Whaley. The cemetery was always conducted as the direct property of the church under the supervision of the pastor. The first burial was that of John Kohn. Because of some difficulties at Sacred Heart church, a number of their parishioners were buried in St. John’s cemetery. Records indicate that Nelson Burnside, caretaker of the Protestant cemetery, also looked after St. John’s cemetery including grave digging. In 1944, John McMahon transferred title to the old Andrew Cocca cemetery to St. John’s church more than doubling the size of the cemetery.

From establishment in 1904 to incorporation in 1913, St. John’s was a mission of St. Joseph’s in Gowanda while Rev. Enright was pastor there. From June 1913 to June 1914, St. John’s was a parish church with resident pastor Rev. Patrick O’Dwyer. In June 1914, when Rev. O’Dwyer was named pastor at Eden Center, St. John’s was made a mission of Eden Center. From 1924 to 1937, Rev. James Mullins served St. John’s from Eden Center. St. John’s became a mission of Sacred Heart Church in North Collins when Rev. Edward S. Schwegler was named pastor of both churches. Rev. James Horrigan served the churches from 1945-1952. Rev. Roman J. Ott was appointed administrator of both parishes on October 3, 1947. Five years later, on August 4, 1952, the two churches were incorporated as Holy Spirit Parish and Rev. Roman Ott was installed pastor.   

On March 26, 1956, St. John’s officially closed. The altars, Communion Railing, Baptismal font & statues were moved to Sacred Heart Church. Before closing, a requiem mass was to be celebrated for all deceased members of St. John’s Parish.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church was built in 1907 under Rev. H. M. Cocola as a mission of Eden for about 500 Italian-speaking Catholics in the area. The church was located at the corner of Spruce and High Streets in the village of North Collins. From about 1898 to 1907, various visiting priests presided at Mass for this faith community. Prior to construction of the church, Erie Preserving Co. a major employer for this Italian community provided a small frame building as a worship space located on Langford Road near Valone Avenue. The rectory was constructed beside the church on Spruce Street in 1913—1914, when the church became an independent parish and received her first resident pastor, the Rev. Lawrence Scarpaci. The boundaries of the parish were nearly identical to those of St. John’s Church.

On March 19, 1918, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church was incorporated under Diocese of Buffalo Bishop Dennis J. Dougherty. By 1919, the parish included approximately 125 families, most originating from southern Italy or Sicily. In 1920-1921, the church was enlarged with the addition of two wings to bring the seating capacity to 225. By 1943, both the church and rectory had been added to and/or altered several times.

The social affair of the parish was an annual outdoor picnic shortly before the feast of the Assumption, which included a brass bad, a parade, fireworks, and other entertainments. It has been said that sometimes more money was spent than put into the church treasury. Other social functions were held in the basement of the rectory until it became too small. The hall under St. John’s Church was then used until in July 1947 Rev. Horrigan announced plans to finish the Sacred Heart basement for use as a hall. Rev. Horrigan also helped the women of the parish organize an Altar Society, which met for the first time in July 1947.

There were some difficulties about acquiring some cemetery land for Sacred Heart Parish . Although Andrew Cocca offered an expensive site on Gowanda State Road beside St. John’s Cemetery, a different plot of land, on the hill off Langford Road was purchased by Rev. Scarpaci in 1917. The parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish said it had been used as a dumping ground and refused to have their dead buried there. Therefore, it was sold and a new plot purchased in 1918, at the intersection of Brant and Mile Block Roads. The first burial here was January 31, 1918. Prior to 1918, dead of the parish were buried in St. John’s Cemetery. Three of four burials took place in the Andrew Cocca property adjacent to St. John’s Cemetery. When Cocca filed for bankruptcy in 1930, the new owner John McMahon gave the property to St. John’s Church.

The following are the pastors of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church: Rev .H. M. Cocola (1907-1910), Rev. George Marx (1910-1911), Rev. J. L. Stephen (1911-1913), Rev. Lawrence Scarpaci (1913-1918), Rev. Ludwin E. Winter of Langford Parish, Rev. H. Sella of Brant Parish, Rev. John Proseda (1919-1922), Rev. P. C. Santy (1922-19330, Rev. John Lenczak (1923-192500, Rev. Joseph Massolo (1925-1927), Rev. Anthony Bifarella (1927-1932), Rev. James Scanlon (1932-1937), Rev. Edward Schwegler (1937-1945), Rev. James Horrigan (1945-1952), Rev. Roman J. Ott (1947-1952).

Although merger of St. John’s Church and Sacred Heart Church was considered during the tenure of Rev. Schwegler (who was pastor of both parishes 1937-1945), it was not until January 1948 that the two churches kept only one set of books under Rev. Roman J. Ott as administrator. In 1947, permanent catechetical instruction under the Felician Sisters began with approval from Bishop John F. O’Hara. In 1948, there were 310 children in catechetical instruction taught by sisters and priests under the NYS Released Time Program. After the coming of the sisters, an annual Christmas play and party complete with Santa Claus and presents were held, first at Sacred Heart hall and later at the larger St. John’s hall. The next few years were a time of growth in activity and a spirit of unity becoming stronger between the two churches. Sacred Heart and St. John’s memberships and physical properties were incorporated in 1952 as Holy Spirit Parish under Rev. Roman J. Ott. Administrator. The name Holy Spirit was chosen to reverence the third person of the Blessed Trinity and to show no partiality to either of the existing churches. Bishop O’Hara remarked; "the Holy Spirit is the God of Love, which unites things into one.”

Today, some of our parishioners look back on these times with fond memories of walking from school to St. John’s Church for religious instruction, participating in outdoor processions for May Crowning and graduation ceremonies, May Day rallies with surrounding parishes, summer Crystal Beach parties, block rosaries in October, etc.  

When the parishes merged, larger facilities were needed. A building committee was formed to raise funds and formal ground breaking for the new Holy Spirit Parish complex was held on the south side of Halley Road at Route 62, outside the village. On June 8, 1958, parishioners gathered at the site for an outdoor Mass and blessing of the site for the new church and school complex. The church corner stone and buildings were blessed on November 23, 1958. The Christmas Masses and all subsequent services were held in the new church. Holy Spirit School opened September 1959. 

Fr. Ott remained at Holy Spirit until reassignment in January 1964. Rev. Bernard Weiss was installed as pastor January 13, 1964 and served the parish until his retirement at the end of 1984. The school flourished for many years, with Rev. Ott, Rev. Weiss, the Felician sisters and a very dedicated guild. However, over time enrollment began declining. After 25 years, the school closed in June 1985. School alumni and parents, very sad at the closing, recall their time at Holy Spirit School with fond memories.

Subsequent administrators/pastors included: Rev. Norman Lux (June 1985 - deceased 2/15/88), Msgr. Daniel J. Szostak (1988—1999), Rev. James Judge (July 1999 - November 2005). A new development at this time included, Sanctus Spiritus, which is an outdoor prayer park where people can experience art, nature, traditional and contemporary prayer.  There are stepping-stones in the shape of a rosary leading to a shrine of the Blessed Mother, outdoor Stations of the Cross, and two beautiful bronze sculptures by noted Catholic artist Timothy P. Schmalz from Kitchener Ontario.

From February  1, 2006 until April 22,  2010, Rev. John Kwiecien served as the pastor and Rev. Walter Grabowski led the parish from April  23, 2010 until September 1, 2017. Under the leadership of Rev. Grabowski the following improvements were made: 1) new air conditioning installed in church and the church hall; 2) refurbished the church pews; 3) replaced windows in the school building; 4) reopened the chapel; 5) purchased the new nativity set; 6) rented out the vacant content building.

When Fr. Grabowski was transferred, Rev. John Arogyasami was appointed as the temporary administrator in September of 2017 and served in that role until April 30, 2018. On May 1, 2018, Most Rev. Richard J. Malone appointed Rev. Dawid Krzeszowski as the new administratior and he currently serves the parish in that capacity.

From June, 2018, under the administation of Rev. Krzeszowski,  the church roof was replaced as well as the chapel and garage roof. In addition, the sound amplifier for the choir was replaced and the new outdoor parish sign was purchased and installed thanks to the generousity of the Holy Name Sociaty. 

More recently, Holy Spirit Parish joined with Immaculate Conception Parish transferring the location of their Faith Formation classes to ICC due to declining enrollment. Weather permitting, Holy Spirit Church began celebrating outdoor Masses in Sanctus Spiritus Park on Saturday evenings.

In October of 2019, the new website and Facebook page for both, Holy Spirit Church as well as Immaculate Conception Church, was developed to help the parishioners to stay connected and continue to grow as a faith community.