Old St. Mary's Church (Cincinnati, Ohio) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Old St. Mary's Church, School and Rectory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Front of the church with its tower
Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	123 E. 13th St., Cincinnati, Ohio
Area	1.9 acres (0.77 ha)
Built	1841
Architect	Franz Ignatz Erd
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Late Victorian
Part of	Over-the-Rhine Historic District (ID83001985)
NRHP reference No.	76001439
Added to NRHP	March 13, 1976

Old St. Mary's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is found in the historic Over-The-Rhine neighborhood. This church holds a special place in history. It is the oldest house of worship in Cincinnati that has been used continuously.

Old St. Mary's is the very first church built in Cincinnati. Since 2017, it has been home to The Cincinnati Oratory. This is a group of priests and brothers. The church was started in 1840 by German immigrants. Many new people were moving to the city at that time.

The church was designed by Franz Ignatz Erd. He used the Greek Revival style. Old St. Mary's is the second-oldest German-Catholic church in the city. It is also the oldest church building still standing in Cincinnati. The church is about 142 feet long and 66 feet wide. Its tall steeple reaches 170 feet high. When it was first built, it was the largest church in the Ohio Valley area. The original church was officially opened on July 3, 1842.

A Look Back: The Church's Story

The first German Catholic church in Cincinnati was Holy Trinity Church. It was located in the Old West End neighborhood. Holy Trinity started in 1834. As more German immigrants arrived, a new church was needed.

Building a Community Church

In 1840, many German immigrants were coming to Cincinnati. About 200 new people arrived every day. Many men from the community helped build Old St. Mary's. They even made the bricks by hand. More German immigrants came after 1848.

The land for the church was bought from the St. Clair estate. The first stone was laid on March 25, 1841. Bishop Purcell led this important event. Father Clemens Hammer was the first pastor. Old St. Mary's has the oldest clock tower in Cincinnati. A clock was put in the steeple in 1842. The first bell was added in 1843. For many years, this bell was used as a fire alarm for the city's northeast side.

Growing with the City

A new organ was installed in the church in 1846. A school for the parish opened in 1844. In 1846, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur came to teach there. Later, in 1852, a school for boys was opened. Teachers from the Marianist brothers worked there. During a serious health crisis in 1849, many church members sadly passed away.

The church nave as viewed from the loft.

Important Updates and Recognition

The church building was made larger in 1865. It was also updated in 1890. The word "Old" was added to the church's name in 1904. This happened after another St. Mary's church was built in Hyde Park, Cincinnati. In 1929, a second organ was given to the church. It came from the Austin Organs company.

The three main buildings of Old St. Mary's were recognized as important. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means they are special historical sites. Later, in 1983, they became part of the larger Over-the-Rhine Historic District. This district includes over two thousand historic buildings.

A Special Leader: Father Joseph Albers

Joseph H. Albers became a priest in 1916. His first job was as an assistant pastor at Old St. Mary's Church. During World War I, Father Albers served as a chaplain for the armed forces. A chaplain is a priest who helps soldiers. He was honored for his bravery and courage. He received the Silver Star award. After the war, he was chosen to start a new church area in Michigan. He became the first bishop of the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, serving from 1937 to 1964.

Church Leaders Through the Years

Here are some of the pastors who have led Old St. Mary's Church:

• Rev. Clemens Hammer (1842-1860)
• Rev. B. Elkman (1861-1881)
• Rev. B.J. Menge (1881-1897)
• Rev. Bernard Moeller (1898-1915)
• Rev. Joseph T. Duerstock (1916-1941)
• Very Rev. Jon-Paul Bevak (2016-present)

Old St. Mary's Today

A Mass being celebrated at the church.

Today, the church continues to celebrate its rich traditions. These include special music and ways of worship. Mass is offered in Latin and English every weekday. On Sundays, Mass is also offered in German. The Latin Mass often features a group of professional singers. They perform beautiful sacred music from October to June. They also sing on special feast days.

Old St. Mary’s Church is the main church for the Oratorians. This group also helps with Sacred Heart Church in Camp Washington.