There are several abandoned churches in Wisconsin, but none are shrouded in as much mystery and lore as St. Ambrose Church. At first glance, it might not seem so creepy. However, you’ll change your mind when you learn of its strange history, which involves everything from a rogue priest to a curse.

Vacant since the 1980s, St. Ambrose Church is in the small town of Saint Nazianz, WI.
Royalbroil/Wikimedia
Though not built until 1898, the church's history goes back to 1854, when Father Ambrose Oschwald, a German immigrant, came to Wisconsin to evade religious persecution.
Landratsamt Rastatt/Wikimedia
The Roman Catholic Church suspended Father Oschwald due to his "mystical, prophetic, and heretical works."
Father Oschwald didn’t come to Wisconsin alone, though. Several church members made the overseas voyage with him.
Michael Steeber/Flickr
The priest and his followers formed a religious community known as The Association of Oschwald Brothers and Sisters.
In 1873, when Father Oschwald fell ill, strange things began to happen.
Michael Steeber/Flickr
While Father Oschwald lay dying in his bed, a mysterious pounding could be heard coming from the walls of his room as well as homes throughout the community. The phantom banging began on the night of February 26th and ceased on February 27th, as Father Oschwald drew his last breath.

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Also strange, Father Oschwald’s body decomposed at a much slower rate than usual.
relux./Flickr
At the time of his burial, 63 days after his death, the priest still had a "lifelike complexion" and his hair and fingernails were still growing.
1. St. Ambrose Church has sat dormant in St. Nazianz since 1982.
relux./Flickr
Is the Saint Nazianz Church haunted? Many say it is. Find out more about this fascinating abandoned church in Wisconsin in this video:
Following Father Oschwald’s death, the property changed hands several times.
Michael Steeber/Flickr
Immediately after the priest’s passing, a religious group, the Salvatorians, took ownership of the property, converting it into a seminary and then, a prep school. It’s said that former students from the seminary and prep school haunt the grounds today.
The Salvatorians sold the property in 1982.
Patrick Kuhl/Flickr
In 2008, United Ministries took ownership of the property. Several buildings surrounding the church have since been refurbished; however, St. Ambrose Church remains empty, neglected, and left to decay.

So, did you know about St. Ambrose? What about the legends surrounding Saint Nazianz? Know of other abandoned churches in Wisconsin?

The state’s long-forgotten sites don’t end with abandoned churches in Wisconsin. There are quite a few, including several ghost towns in Wisconsin.

 

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54232, St Nazianz, WI 54232, USA