History Of Our Parish

The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Shelbyville was consecrated by the Most Reverend Bishop Martin John Spalding on the Feast of the Holy Angels, October 2, 1860.

For five years previous in 1855, the Catholics of Shelbyville were served as a mission by Father John Bekkers, a native of Holland, who came to Kentucky at the invitation of Bishop Spalding. Mass was held in the homes of local Catholics. Father Bekkers made his first trip from the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville to Shelbyville. He visited every three or four months to encourage the Catholics in Shelbyville to establish a church of their own. Mrs. Jane Campbell donated property for the building in 1859. Both Catholics and non-Catholics made financial donations. At first, the building consisted of only wall frames and rough floors. Through a series of additions, the chapel took on the present form. Father Michael D. Lawler was the first pastor. Two years after the dedication of the church (1862), a rectory was built.

During the pastorate of Fr. Cushing (1864-95), the bell tower was added, and during Fr. Riley’s tenure (1905-1918), the rectory was expanded. In 1967, Rev. Joseph Lyon built the education building, and in 1975 Fr. Chester Bowling had a new rectory built. In 1998, at the request of Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly O.P., Fr. C. Joseph Batcheldor addressed the need for a new church. Construction, with room for 400 attendances and a gathering space, was begun, and the church was consecrated by Archbishop Kelly on February 6, 2000.

Under Fr. T. Michael Tobin, our new parish center was finished in 2020. It provides the environment to facilitate unity among its members, and it helps to keep the parish vibrant and centered for our faith community.

Today, the Church of the Annunciation continues to thrive as the only Catholic parish in a growing Shelby County, now home to over 1,000 families. Though modest in size, the parish is rich in faith and service, supporting more than 30 active ministries that meet the spiritual and practical needs of its members and the wider community. In 2025, the opening of the St. Padre Pio Food Pantry further embodied this mission, serving over 100 people each week and extending Christ’s compassion to neighbors in need. Annunciation is strengthened by the unity of its Latino and Anglo communities, who worship and serve together as one parish family. This spirit of shared faith is evident in the many vibrant traditions and events that define parish life—including the annual parish picnic, Lenten fish fry, 40 Hours Devotion and Eucharistic procession, a Living Rosary, and the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Truly, Annunciation Parish is a small community that accomplishes great things through faith, fellowship, and dedication.