St. Elizabeth of Hungary Shrine (Cleveland, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Elizabeth of Hungary Shrine
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Front, seen from east
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 Location in Cleveland
Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 9016 Buckeye Rd., Cleveland, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1918 |
| Architect | Emile M. Uhlrich |
| Architectural style | Italian Baroque |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001402 |
| Added to NRHP | January 30, 1976 |
| St. Elizabeth of Hungary Shrine | |
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| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Cleveland |
The St. Elizabeth of Hungary Shrine is a special Roman Catholic building in Cleveland, Ohio. It is located in the Buckeye Road neighborhood on the east side of the city. This church is very important because it was the first parish (a church community) in the United States created specifically for Hungarian people.
The current church building was finished in the early 1900s. It is recognized as a historic site, meaning it's an important place from the past. In 2023, a bishop named Edward Malesic officially made it a "shrine church." This means it's a special place for people to learn about Hungarian Christian history. It also holds church services using older traditions. Priests from the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest now take care of the shrine.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
In the beginning, Hungarian Catholics in Cleveland went to a Slovakian church called St. Ladislaus. But as more Hungarian people moved to the area, they wanted their own church. They also had some disagreements with the Slovakian community.
So, in late 1892, a priest named Charles Boehm came from Hungary to Cleveland. He helped start the new St. Elizabeth parish. This was the very first Hungarian church community in all of America!
Building the First Church and School
Father Boehm quickly started signing up new members for the church. He also worked hard to get a church building constructed. By the end of 1893, the first brick church was built. Soon after, a school was added. Because so many children joined, a bigger school was built in 1900.
Father Boehm also started a newspaper for the parish. It was written in Hungarian. People from other parts of the United States and even Hungary read it!
Changes in Leadership and New Churches
In 1907, Father Boehm left to help start other Hungarian churches across America. Julius Szepessy took his place. After Szepessy passed away in 1923, Father Boehm returned to St. Elizabeth's. He stayed until he retired in 1927.
In 1904, some Hungarian Catholics living in western Cleveland found it hard to travel to St. Elizabeth's. The trip took about three hours! With Father Boehm's help, a new church called St. Emeric's was created for them. St. Emeric's was the first of more than a dozen Hungarian churches that started because of Father Boehm's work.
Even with the new church, St. Elizabeth's still had many members. The old building became too small. Before he left in 1907, Father Boehm began raising money for a new, bigger church. The current church building was finished while Julius Szepessy was the priest. A parish hall was also built, which became a important meeting place for the Hungarian community.
Becoming a Shrine Church Today
In July 2023, Bishop Edward Malesic decided that St. Elizabeth's would become a shrine church. This means it would continue to use the Tridentine Mass, which is an older form of the Catholic Mass.
Later, Bishop Malesic invited the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to take over the church. They would celebrate only the traditional Mass and other sacraments (holy ceremonies) that were used before the changes made by Pope Paul VI. Canon James Hoogerwerf from this Institute was named the new leader of St. Elizabeth's. The first Mass under their care was held on September 24, 2023.
The Church's Design
The very first St. Elizabeth's church was a simple brick building. It was built in 1893 and looked like a basic Gothic Revival style church. This building was taken down in 1917 to make way for the church you see today.
When Was the Current Church Built?
The first stone for the new church was placed in 1918. However, building it took a long time. It was finally finished in 1922.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church is mostly built from limestone. A Cleveland architect named Emile Uhlrich designed it. The church is an example of Italian Baroque style. This means it looks like old Italian buildings from the Baroque period. It was partly inspired by a famous church in Rome called Sant'Agnese in Agone.
The front of the church has two tall towers with round domes on top. These towers are at each end of the building. In the middle of the front, high above the main entrance, there is a large round window called a rose window. A set of steps leads from the sidewalk up to the main entrance. The church building is right next to the sidewalk, with no space in front of it.
Keeping History Alive
In 1976, St. Elizabeth's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened because it played a big part in the area's history. Its special architecture also made it important.
The building has been kept in good condition. This is partly thanks to money left to the church by generous people. However, the number of church members has gone down a lot since its busiest times. Many Hungarian residents moved away from the neighborhood in the 1970s. This was mainly because factory jobs disappeared and crime rates went up.
But, two other Hungarian churches, St. Emeric's in western Cleveland and St. Margaret's in Orange, also had fewer members. So, in early 2009, Bishop Lennon closed those two churches. He asked their members to start going to St. Elizabeth's instead. This helped St. Elizabeth's continue its important role in the community.
