The parish church of St. John is a Roman Catholic church in the Rapperswil . After a devastating fire and extensive reconstruction , St. John 's was reconsecrated on October 6 , 1885. Its architectural style is a blend of stylistic elements from seven centuries .The first church in the shadow of the castle was built around 1229 , commissioned by the Count of Rapperswil , at the same time as the town and castle of Rapperswil . For the Counts of Rapperswil, the construction of the town church was just one of a whole series of notable ecclesiastical and monastic foundations and establishments: Bubikon Knights' House ( 1192 ), Wettingen Abbey ( 1227 ), Oberbollingen Abbey ( around 1250 ) , the Cistercian convent of Mariazell - Wurmsbach (1259 ) , and the Dominican convent of Weesen . In 1227 and 1290 , the Counts of Rapperswil gifted or sold their properties in Uri , including Göschenen , to Wettingen Abbey . This not entirely selfless , but at that time customary, act of charity secured the salvation of the souls and earthly possessions , along with their income , for the members of the House of Rapperswil .