In 1866 Jacob and Emma Chance deeded a small tract of land on South Washington Street in Salem and a small mission church was built on this property in 1868 for the eight families that made up the tiny parish named St. Theresa of Avila. The first Baptism was recorded in 1873, the first marriage in 1880, and the first burial was in 1873. St. Theresa of Avila's first resident priest, Reverend A. B. Schomaker was appointed on June 1940. During that year land and finances for a new church were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Guth. The new church was constructed at the corner of West Main and Ohio streets and a building next door was purchased for the rectory.

A parish school and convent was dedicated in 1955. The school educated the community of Salem for 15 years until it was closed in 1969 because the parish lost the teaching sisters. The arrival of a new industry in Salem welcomed additional Catholic families to the community and the school was reopened in 1977. By 1997, the school offered a full day kindergarten and a latchkey program that was a help to working parents. Sadly, although the school provided education for the town, not just catholic students, the school had to be closed in 2019 because of low enrollment.

Many orders of religious communities served the school and parish over the years. These included Poor Hand Maids, Adorers of the Most Precious Blood, Felician Sisters, and School Sisters of Notre Dame. Most recently in January of 2013, a grant through the Catholic Extension Society brought Sister Mary Catherine Clark (ASC), to St. Theresa of Avila and she served as the Director of Religious Formation until 2018.

In Summary, during these past 155 years our parish has strived to work at providing the community and its surrounding areas with social outreach, faith formation, the Sacraments, proclaiming the word of God, and fostering fellowship. Through our Men's Club, Knights of Columbus, and Avila League Ladies we have provided the community with fundraising and social services activities which include regular blood drives and a church food pantry. The parish works with the area Ministerial Alliance and provides workers for the community food pantry. We work with the local Elk's Club's Hungry Hearts summer food program and we support the local pregnancy center. Our church is not a building but a people empowered by the Holy Spirit.

To learn more about each individual history for St. Theresa of Avila and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, please click on the images below.