The first Catholic Church in Scottsbluff, constructed in 1903, was a 20x36 ft. wooden structure located at 17th and First Avenue.  Originally named St. John's, the altar consisted of a kitchen table covered with a white sheet and church members brought their own chairs.  As the membership grew, the services were moved down the street a block to the upper floor of the Weller Building. 

St. John's was a mission Church administered by priests who traveled to Scottsbluff by horse and buggy from Sidney until 1912, when it was established as the parish of St. Agnes by Bishop Richard Scannell of Omaha.  Father T.J. O'Byrne was the first pastor.

After St. agnes became a parish, the Catholics first purchased property for a new church at 20th Street & First Avenue but William Frank of Grand Island offered to donate land on the outskirts of Scottsbluff for a new church.  In 1917 a contract was awarded to erect a 50x100ft. church at its present site, 2314 Third Avenue,  and the church was dedicated in April of 1919.

Rev. James O'Kane was pastor during the latest reconstruction, which was completed June 9, 2002.  The interior of the church was modernized and structural problems corrected.  An elevator was added to reach the lower level, now called the "garden level" and enclosed gathering space was added to the front of the church.

Priests who have served St. Agnes include Fr. T.J. O'Byrne, Fr. Timothy Mahoney, Fr. James Whelan, Fr. Walter Phalen, Fr. Donald O'Brien, Fr. Robert Karnish, Fr. Charles Torpey, Fr. James O'Kane, Fr. Donald A. Buhrman and our present pastor, Fr. Vincent Parsons.