St. John's Catholic Church (Delphos, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John Catholic Church
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Southern side and front of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 110 N. Franklin St., Delphos, Ohio |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | S.W. Lane |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002933 |
| Added to NRHP | January 3, 1980 |
St. John's Catholic Church is an old and important church in Delphos, Ohio. It's located in Allen County and is part of the Diocese of Toledo. A famous architect named S.W. Lane designed it. This church is special because of its amazing architecture, which is why it's known as a historic site.
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History of St. John's Church
St. John's Parish started in 1842. It was founded by German Catholic settlers who came from a place called Osnabrück. In 1854, a serious illness called cholera affected the church community.
Even with challenges, the church grew a lot! It became so big that it was split into two groups. The people living in Landeck formed their own separate church.
A man named Frederick Bredeick gave land for the church building you see today. Construction began in 1879 and finished the next year, in 1880. As the village of Delphos grew thanks to the Miami and Erie Canal, the church also became more successful. The beautiful design of the church shows how much wealth came from the trade along the canal.
Amazing Architecture of the Church
St. John's Church has a very special design. It stands out because of its unique style.
Inside the Church: What to See
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Inside the church, you'll notice several cool features. There's a big, arched ceiling called a rib vault. Two rows of tall columns line the main part of the church, known as the nave. These columns have fancy tops called Corinthian capitals. The altar, where services are held, looks like the one in a famous church in Rome called the Basilica di San Clemente. Experts in architecture say the inside of St. John's Church is one of the best in western Ohio.
Outside the Church: A Unique Look
The outside of the church is also very impressive. Many large Catholic churches in western Ohio are built in a style called Gothic Revival. In fact, some counties nearby are even called the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches" because of how many Gothic Revival churches they have.
But St. John's is different! It's a huge church built in the Romanesque Revival style, which is quite rare for such a large building in this area. The church takes up an entire city block. Its tall tower is the most noticeable part of the Delphos skyline. Because of its size and grand look, people have even compared it to a cathedral, which is a very important church.
Why St. John's is Recognized
In 1980, St. John's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places that are important to history or architecture. The church was recognized because of its amazing design.
It's the only church in Allen County on this national list. It's also one of only three buildings in Delphos to receive this special recognition.
