Saint Francis De Sales Catholic Church (Cincinnati, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Francis De Sales Church Historic District
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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 | Woodburn Ave. and Madison Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Area | 18 acres (73,000 m2) |
| Built | 1879 |
| Architect | Francis G. Himpler |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001512 |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1974 |
Saint Francis De Sales Catholic Church is a beautiful old church located at 2900 Woodburn Avenue. You can find it in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. It's a special place with a long history.
Contents
History of the Church
The church community, called a congregation, started in 1849. Their very first building was officially opened on November 3, 1850. The church is named after Saint Francis de Sales, who is its special patron saint.
Building the Church
The first stone for the current church building was placed on June 30, 1878. This important event was led by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell. Nearly 10,000 people came to watch! The church building was finished and officially opened on December 20, 1879.
The first people who joined this church community were mostly from Germany. They came from two older churches in Cincinnati: St. Mary's Church and St. Paul Church.
The Main Altar
The main altar inside St. Francis de Sales Church is very impressive. It was officially blessed by Archbishop W.H. Elder on April 27, 1887. This beautiful altar was a gift from Joseph and Agnes Kleine. It was carved by Fred and Henry Schroeder of Cincinnati, following designs by A. Kloster from New York.
The altar is made of pure white Rutland marble. The floor around it is also made of white marble. The altar has shiny onyx pillars and delicate Gothic spires, which are tall, pointed decorations. On either side of the altar are statues of Saint Joseph and Saint Agnes. These statues honor the patron saints of the people who donated the altar.
Big Joe, the Giant Bell
St. Francis de Sales Church is home to a famous bell named Joseph, but everyone calls him "Big Joe." This bell is the largest swinging bell ever made in the United States! It was created by the VanDuzen Company in downtown Cincinnati.
How Big Is Big Joe?
Big Joe is huge! It measures about 9 by 7 feet (2.7 m × 2.1 m) in diameter and height. That's like a small room! The bell weighs an amazing 35,000 pounds (16,000 kg), which includes a 640 pounds (290 kg) clapper. The clapper is the part that swings and hits the bell to make sound.
Big Joe was named after a church member who gave the most money to help pay for the bell. When it was first rung, people said you could hear it 15 miles (24 km) away! It was so loud that it even rattled nearby buildings and loosened stones in the walls. Because it was so powerful, people decided to stop swinging the bell. For over 100 years, "Big Joe" has been rung by a special hammer that taps its rim instead of swinging.
A Historic Landmark
In early 1974, the church, its school, and the rectory (where the priests live) were recognized as a special historic district. This area is called the "St. Francis De Sales Church Historic District." It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important place to protect and remember.
