Father Baraga landed on Beaver Island in 1832 after first working on the Arbre Crochet mission nearby. There were a number of Ojibwe who wished to become Christian that endured many hardships from other Ojibwe who wished for nothing to do with it. In the end, most of these Ojibwe started working with those at Arbre Crochet who were almost entirely confirmed into the Catholic Faith. Father Baraga then went back to this island after becoming Bishop and consecrated this church.