St. Patrick Parish had its beginning at Belmont, two miles south of Ryan, when a church and rectory were constructed in the early 1880’s. The first church in Ryan was constructed in 1893, and then replaced by a larger, brick church on a new site in 1910, costing $45,000. It was after this second church was constructed in Ryan that St. Michael Parish, Belmont, was divided into St. Patrick, Ryan and St. John, Coggon. The parish cemetery still remains at the original site.

Other buildings of the parish included St. Patrick School, formerly St. John School, used from 1913 – 1967; a rectory from 1921 – 1974; a convent and religious education center from 1950 - 2003; and a gymnasium and parish hall from 1954 to the present.

After five years of updating and remodeling the various buildings of the parish and retiring the last of the dept in June 1974, a devastating tornado struck the town of Ryan at 4:20 PM on August 12, 1974, doing irreparable damage to the church and severely damaging the rectory. With much drive and dedication, characteristics of their Catholic ancestors, the parishioners of St. Patrick banded together to complete the rebuilding of a rectory and church at the same location. The latter was dedicated on July 25, 1976.

One long-standing tradition of St. Patrick Parish is their monthly breakfast. This social and fundraising event was begun by the social circle in 1951, and continues to this day on the first Sunday of each month.

St. Patrick Parish was a member of the very first cluster in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The Manchester Area Cluster was formed in 1998, by St. Joseph, Greeley; St. Mary, Manchester; and St. Patrick, Ryan. In 2005, the cluster was reorganized into the Blessed Trinity Cluster when Immaculate Conception, Masonville, became a member and the church in Greeley closed.

From our humble beginnings, our parish has grown from 17 families to 176 families.
(2011)