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 an old and important church building located in Ashtabula, Ohio, in the United States. It was built in the 1890s for a new church community. This church has been recognized as a special historic place by both local and national groups.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
The first church services in Ashtabula Harbor started in 1878. At first, these services only happened during the summer. The very first place where people gathered to worship was a grocery store.
Forming a Community
From these early gatherings, a new church community was officially started in 1890. This community was named after "Mother of Sorrows".
Building the Church
The church building itself was constructed in 1898. It was designed in the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses round arches and strong, heavy walls. The architect who designed it was William P. Ginther. He was from Akron, Ohio, and was known for designing many church buildings.
Church Design and Materials
The church's base and walls are made from sandstone. Its roof is covered with asphalt. Many large windows made of glass are also a big part of the church's outside look. The church stands on a corner lot. It has large gables, which are the triangular parts of the wall under the roof, facing both streets.
Unique Features
At the corner of the building, facing the street intersection, there is a square tower. This tower has battlements at the top, which look like the tops of old castles. The main entrance to the church is at the bottom of this tower. The top part of the tower holds a belfry, where bells are usually kept.
A Recognized Historic Site
National Recognition
In 1995, the Mother of Sorrows Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important for their history or architecture. The church was added because of its special and important architectural style.
Local Protection
The city of Ashtabula also created the Harbor Historical District in 1978. This district helps protect old buildings and areas. In 2010, the boundaries of this district were changed to include Mother of Sorrows Church. This means the church, along with other historic buildings in the area, is protected by city rules. These rules help prevent big changes to the building.
Recent Status of the Church
Changes in Use
The Mother of Sorrows Church is now overseen by the city's Our Lady of Peace Parish. The church no longer uses some of its older buildings, like its former rectory (where the priest lived) or its school.
Building Concerns
By 2022, both Mother of Sorrows Church and St. Joseph Church were closed for regular services. They were only used for two special Masses each year. In 2024, parts of the ceiling inside Mother of Sorrows Church fell. This made many people worry that the building had serious damage to its structure.
Future of the Church
The pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fr. John Keehner, waited for a special study from the diocese to see if the church should be closed permanently. On April 6, 2025, Bishop Bonner sent a letter that was read at a church service. The letter explained that two independent studies showed the Mother of Sorrows Church had major structural problems in its ceiling and roof supports. It would cost a lot of money, between 1.2 and 2 million dollars, to fix the church and make it safe to reopen. Bishop Bonner decided that the church could not afford these repairs, so it would stay closed. St. Joseph Church in Ashtabula also remains a secondary worship site and may face a similar future.
