Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Dayton, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sacred Heart Church
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Viewed from the southeast in 2021
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 217 W. Fourth St., Dayton, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Charles Insco Williams |
| Architectural style | Romanesque; Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001885 |
| Added to NRHP | October 22, 1987 |
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is an old and important church building. It is located in downtown Dayton, Ohio, in the United States. This Catholic church was built in the late 1800s. It was first used by a new group of worshippers. The church closed in 1996. However, it reopened in 2001. A Vietnamese Catholic community now uses the building. This church is special because of its amazing design. Its grand look made it a historic site.
History of the Church Community
St. Joseph's Church was one of Dayton's first Catholic communities. It started in 1846. Soon, St. Joseph's became too small. Some members decided to start a new church. In July 1883, they formed Sacred Heart Church.
Father Hugh McDevitt led the new group. They rented a meeting hall. This was while they waited for their new church to be built. Land for the church was bought for $19,000. The first stone, called a cornerstone, was placed in June 1888. This was a big step in building the church.
The outside of the church was finished in 1889. By 1893, the building was almost done. The community could start worshipping inside. Bishop Maes officially dedicated the church in November 1895. Building the church cost about $100,000. The church community paid off all its building debts by 1903.
For many years, the church community grew strong. By 1909, there were 500 families attending. But by 1996, fewer people were members. Five years later, in 2001, a Catholic group that speaks Vietnamese began using the church.
Church Design and Style
Charles Insco Williams designed Sacred Heart Church. It is built mostly from limestone. The church has a strong limestone base. Its roof is made of asphalt. Some parts use sandstone and copper. The limestone came from a local quarry. The sandstone came from Berea, Ohio.
The church is built in the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses round arches and thick walls. But Sacred Heart also has a large, round dome. This dome is shaped like a Baroque style dome. It has a glass cupola on top.
Two tall towers stand next to the main entrance. There are also beautiful rose windows. These round windows are found under the triangle-shaped parts called pediments. You can see them at the front and sides of the church.
When it was first built, the church had a basement. The main ceiling was 75 feet high. The church building was about 115 feet long and 92 feet wide. Inside, there was beautiful wooden art. There were also paintings and fancy lights. Most of these have been removed now. Some were ruined by the Great Flood of 1913. Others were taken out or painted over later on.
Protecting the Church
In October 1987, Sacred Heart Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States. Usually, religious buildings are not put on this list. But Sacred Heart Church was special. It qualified because of its unique and historic design.
The church's old rectory was also included. A rectory is where the priests live. Sacred Heart Church is one of five Dayton churches on this special list. The others are St. Mary's, St. Adalbert's, Holy Cross Catholic Churches, and First Lutheran Church.
See also
