Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (Fulda, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception
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Front of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off State Route 564 in Fulda, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003202 |
| Added to NRHP | July 21, 1980 |
The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a very old and important church. It is located in Fulda, a small town in Noble County, Ohio, United States. This church was started in the 1840s by German immigrants. The church building is a famous landmark that stands out in the area. It has been officially recognized as a historic site because of its special history and architecture.
Contents
History of the Fulda Church
The area around Noble County was settled by pioneers after 1795. The town of Fulda itself was planned in 1861 by Charles Burlingame. By the late 1880s, many German families lived in this small village.
Early Days of the Church
The Immaculate Conception Church was formed around 1840. This was about seven years after the first German families arrived. These families had moved from Wheeling, Virginia. For a while, there was no priest living in the area. Priests from other towns would visit sometimes.
In 1849, a priest from Miltonsburg started visiting twice a month. The first priest to live in Fulda arrived in 1858. He stayed for two years. His replacement, D.J. Kluber, served the church from 1860 to 1883. He was very important to the church's growth.
Building the First Church
Construction on a small church building began while the Miltonsburg priest was visiting. Archbishop Purcell of Cincinnati officially opened it in 1853. Ten years later, in 1863, the church built a parish school. A house for the priest, called a rectory, was built in 1866. This rectory was large and cost a lot of money to build.
Building the Current Church
By the 1870s, the first church building was too small. The community decided to build a new, larger church. The first stone for the new church was laid in May 1874. Bishop Rosecrans of Columbus officially opened the new church in August 1875. This is the beautiful church building you see today.
Church Architecture and Design
The Immaculate Conception Church is built of brick. It is designed in the Romanesque Revival style. This style looks like old Roman buildings. The front of the church has a pointed roof, called a gable. It is divided into three sections.
Outside the Church
The two side sections on the front have doors with fan-shaped windows above them. There are also windows above these doors. The middle section has a tall tower. This tower has two round windows and an arched window above its main doorway. Inside the tower, near the top, is a belfry where bells would hang.
The sides of the church have very large Romanesque windows. Under the roof, there is a decorative border made of small arches. The church is the most important building in Fulda. It sits on a hilltop, making its grand design stand out even more.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is very detailed, which is unusual for a church in a rural area like Appalachian Ohio. It has a vaulted ceiling, which means it is curved like a tunnel. The church also uses many colors, known as polychromy. There is a grand high altar at the front.
The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Because of this, the main color inside is a light blue. However, rose and gold colors are also used a lot. These colors represent Christ the King.
Preserving the Church
The Immaculate Conception Church is still an active part of the Diocese of Steubenville. It is one of five Catholic churches in Noble County that belong to this diocese.
In 1980, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. It was added because of its important architecture and its role in local history. The church is one of nine places in Noble County on this list. Another church on the list is St. Henry's Church in Harriettsville. The Immaculate Conception Church helped St. Henry's in its very early years.
