St. Agatha has a long and rich history that goes back over 150 years. Generations of faithful Catholics have celebrated the sacraments in this little country church. St. Agatha was originally built in the small town of Vermillion in about 1871. At a cost of roughly $2,800, the church was erected and dedicated on February 5, 1874. From the beginning, priests from Inver Grove Heights and Mendota served the needs of the community. As the congregation grew, a new church was needed and in 1898 the original church was replaced. Lightning struck the church in 1913, and the building was destroyed by fire. Thanks to a generous donation of two acres of land, the present church was erected in the small farming community of Coates. This tiny community gave the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis two of its brightest lights: Fr. Lawrence Ryan and his brother, Fr. John Ryan. Fr. Lawrence Ryan served as rector of the Cathedral of Saint Paul for many years and was responsible for much of the interior decoration and design. Fr. John Ryan was an international authority on social justice and labor issues whose thinking influenced the policy of Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.