The Haunted St. Michael’s Church

Posted: 06.16.2024 | Updated: 04.15.2025

Old Town Chicago is known for its Victorian architecture, walkable streets, and bustling shops, but towering above it all is the striking and mysterious St. Michael’s Church. Built centuries ago, this gothic landmark once served as a refuge for German immigrants. Today, it’s still active, hosting vibrant services and community events—welcoming both the living and, some say, the dead. It’s a chilling highlight on any Chicago ghost tour.

St. Michael’s holds a heavy energy, as if the spirits of Old Town are drawn to its sacred space. Visitors have reported ghostly knocks, phantom footsteps, and the unmistakable sense of an unseen presence. Among the most haunted churches in Chicago, it harbors a darker layer. In 1970, as crime gripped the city, something sinister is said to have surfaced within the church. Some believe that moment marked the spiritual unraveling of Chicago itself.

Many spirits linger in the pews of this haunted church. It’s hard to tell if you’re seeing a former Old Town soul—or something more sinister. Discover more of Chicago’s dark past with Windy City Ghosts!

Who Haunts St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Chicago?

St. Michael’s Church in Chicago stands as a gothic reminder of the city’s past, both sacred and haunted. Once a sanctuary for German immigrants, the church now draws more than just parishioners. Visitors have reported ghostly whispers, unexplained footsteps, and an overwhelming sense of being watched, even when alone in the pews.

Some believe the spirits are former members of the congregation, unwilling to leave the church they loved. Others whisper of a darker force—an entity awakened during a particularly violent year in Chicago’s history. Are these restless souls merely echoes of the past, or is something more sinister lurking within St. Michael’s walls?

An Unlikely Beginning

It would make sense for the grounds that St. Michael’s was built on to have been donated by a local priest or someone more closely related to the church. Instead, the land at North Avenue and Church Street was owned by a German immigrant who loved distilling alcohol. Michael Diversey operated a relatively successful brewery in Chicago and owned the small plot for which he hadn’t developed a plan. So, rather than let it sit unused, he donated it to a parish committee established by the Diocese of Chicago.

The building constructed by the parish from the $750 collected from its parishioners was significantly more modest than its modern counterpart. It didn’t take long for controversy to rumble within the haunted church as parishioners, driven by the ongoing feud in a divided Germany, closed its doors to outsiders. This remained in effect until 1860 when the Provincial Superior of the Redemptorist was given control of the parish. Under the Redemptorists, the church hosted its first Mass in February of that year.

All was at peace within the parish, so much so that the church grew out of its original building. In 1866, construction on a new red brick building began at Linden Street and Hurlbut Avenue (modern Eugenie and Cleveland). The finished structure stretched 200 feet high, its decorative steeple becoming a prominent part of Old Town’s visual charm and appeal.

A Great Fire Takes St. Michael’s

Unfortunately, the new, towering church, dedicated on September 29, 1869, wouldn’t last long in its current state. Almost exactly 19 years later, a blazing fire spread across Chicago. The insatiable inferno devastated the city for two days, killing 300 and leveling more than 17,000 buildings. Among them was St. Michael’s Church, relatively fresh off its new, impressive reconstruction.

Whether set accidentally or with intent, the fire moved like it had a purpose. Gusts of wind, known to locals as “fire devils,” seemed to uphold their monicker, pushing the fire closer and closer to the church. That the building would become engulfed in flames was inevitable, so parishioners and clergymen salvaged what they could. 

As the smoke cleared from the two-day burn, it looked as if the Devil himself had taken St. Michael’s Catholic Church. The once beautiful structure now stood a shell of itself, scorched and hollowed out by the flames. Surprisingly, much of the church still stood, though the bells had been fused and the tower, once a symbol of progress, now lay in ruins.

Not to be stifled by the Devil’s blaze, once conditions were deemed safe enough, the congregation constructed the church again. Within two years, it was back to its former glory, with five new bells named for St. Michael, St. Joseph, St. Mary, St. Theresa, and St. Alphonsus. Twelve years later, it was adorned with a new spire and a gilded cross topping.

Could the fire have been the Devil’s attempt to weaken the congregation’s grip on Chicago? Many may scoff at the idea, but one pastor might feel differently after an unexpected encounter. Stories like this are what place St. Michael’s among the most haunted churches in Chicago.

The Devil Came Down to Chicago

Many years after the church was rebuilt in 1970, St. Michael’s Church was hosting an evening mass. Nothing made this one any more special than all the others the church had hosted, and yet it would become quite distinct as the night wore on.

One pastor, who has remained unnamed in all retelling of his story, was offering reverence to parishioners, going down the line as he had done during all prior masses. It was such an everyday routine that he no longer focused on who was receiving the body of Christ, so he didn’t notice the dark-robed figure making its way down the line.

The pastor then took notice of the figure’s unexpected appearance and, even more frightening, the cloven hooves peering out from under the dark shroud. All other features remained obscured as if enveloped by an unnatural darkness. The pastor stood his ground, his faith giving him the strength to remain face-to-face with the Devil. 

As quickly as the fiend let itself be known, it was gone. Was the Devil looking to finish what he started in 1871, or was it a warning to the pastor of something evil coming?

The Ghosts of St. Michael’s

The Devil’s visit that night was the last time anyone came that close to the robed figure. However, it wasn’t the last time the cloak had been seen during mass. Several parishioners have complained over the years of a raspy, shrouded figure sitting in the pews of St. Michael’s Catholic Church as if serving as a reminder of the evil that can befall them at any point. 

For as much as the dark figure may present himself in the Old Town church, St. Michael’s has never succumbed to the weight of his evil. Instead, the towering structure is a light in a city rife with crime. Maybe the spirits of former parishioners and clergymen who have remained tied to the building keep the Devil at bay. 

Haunted Chicago

St. Michael’s Catholic Church is more than just a historic landmark—it’s a place where the spiritual and the spectral seem to intertwine. From ghostly footsteps to eerie sensations, its haunted reputation adds a chilling layer to its rich cultural and religious significance.

Whether drawn by faith, curiosity, or a brush with the unknown, visitors continue to flock to this haunted church. Among the most haunted churches in Chicago, its beauty is undeniable—but its mysteries remain unsolved. Will you step inside and discover who—or what—still lingers in the shadows?

St. Michael’s Church in Old Town Chicago is a sight to behold, even if you’re not religious. These stories and more await on a thrilling Chicago ghost tour with Windy City Ghosts. Read more about Chicago’s best haunts on our blog or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more of the city’s haunted history. 

Sources:

• https://www.thespruce.com/victorian-architecture-4769162
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Chicago-fire-of-1871
• https://st-mikes.org/our-history