Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mother of Sorrows Church
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Front of the church, seen from the southwest
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1500 W. 6th St., Ashtabula, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | William P. Ginther |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000170 |
| Added to NRHP | March 9, 1995 |
The Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church is a beautiful old church located at 1500 W. 6th Street in Ashtabula, Ohio, United States. It was built a long time ago, in the 1890s, for a new church community. Today, it's recognized as an important historic site both locally and across the country.
Contents
History of the Church
The first church services, called Mass, in Ashtabula Harbor began in 1878. At first, these services only happened in the summer. The very first place people gathered to worship was actually a grocery store!
From these early gatherings, a new church community, or parish, was officially started in 1890. It was named after St. Mary with the special title "Mother of Sorrows".
Church Design and Style
The church building itself was finished in 1898. It was designed in the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses round arches and strong, solid shapes.
The architect who designed the church was William P. Ginther. He was from Akron and was known for designing many churches.
Building Materials
The church's base, called the foundation, and its main walls are made from strong sandstone. The roof is covered with asphalt. You'll also notice that a lot of glass is used in the church's outside design.
Outside Features
The church sits on a corner lot, which means it faces two streets. Large, triangular parts of the roof, called gables, have huge windows that look out onto both streets.
At the corner of the building, facing the street intersection, there's a square tower. This tower has decorative tops that look like castle walls, called battlements. The main entrance to the church is located at the bottom of this tower. The top part of the tower holds a belfry, which is where church bells are usually kept.
A Recognized Historic Site
In 1995, the Mother of Sorrows Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings and places that are important to American history. The church earned this honor because of its unique and important architecture.
The city of Ashtabula also has its own special area called the Harbor Historical District. This district was created in 1978. In 2010, the district was made larger to include the Mother of Sorrows Church and many other parts of the Ashtabula Harbor neighborhood.
Being part of this district means the church is protected by city rules. These rules help make sure that important historic buildings like Mother of Sorrows Church are not changed too much. Today, the church is managed by the city's Our Lady of Peace Parish.
