St. Mary's Catholic Church (Delaware, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary's Church and Rectory
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Front and side of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 82 E. William St., Delaware, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Adolphus Druiding; Bourner & Phillips |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002994 |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1980 |
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a very old and beautiful Catholic church in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was built in the 1880s. This amazing building is home to a church group that started in the mid-1800s. Its grand style has made it a famous spot in the community for a long time. In 1980, it was even named a historic landmark.
Contents
The Story of St. Mary's Church
How the Church Began in Delaware
The first church services, called Masses, in Delaware were held in people's homes. Traveling priests led these services. Most of the early Catholic families were immigrants from Ireland or Germany. The very first Mass was probably in 1835. It was held by a French missionary priest at Adam Mueller's house.
In 1854, the community built the first St. Mary's Church. It was a small, simple wooden building. This church was connected to Holy Cross Church in Columbus. Traveling priests, including future bishops, visited to lead services.
Growing the Parish Community
Six years later, in 1856, the first full-time priest, Casper Wiese, arrived. He quickly started a parish school for the children. He also bought land for a church cemetery. After him, several priests served for shorter times.
During Henry Fehlings' time as pastor, the church grew a lot. In 1865, a brick part was added to the church building. A nearby store was bought and turned into the school. A house was also bought to be the rectory, where the priest lived. By 1880, about 700 people were part of the church.
Building the Current Church
In 1886, work began on the church you see today. It was built on William Street near downtown. The new church was made of brick with stone and decorative clay details. The first stone was laid in 1887. The church was officially blessed in October 1888 by Bishop John Watterson.
Today, St. Mary's is still a very active church. It is an important part of the Catholic community in Delaware County.
Amazing Architecture of St. Mary's
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St. Mary's is built from brick and sits on a strong foundation of limestone. Its roof is made of slate. The famous architect Adolphus Druiding designed the building. It is a Gothic Revival style church. This means it looks like old European cathedrals.
Towers and Windows
The church has two tall towers at the front. They stand on each side of the main part of the building. The tower on the right side (as you face the church) is much taller. Six pointed windows, called ogive windows, are on the side of the church. The towers have many windows at different heights. The taller tower even has clocks! Both towers have tall, pointy spires on top. You can see these spires from all over Delaware.
Inside the Church
The church has many beautiful details. You can see detailed wood carvings and amazing stained glass in the windows. The bricks are also placed in decorative patterns. Inside, columns separate the main area, called the nave, from the side aisles. The two altars are made of wood. They are both painted and carved with beautiful designs. The church is much more decorative than the rectory building next to it. Even though the rectory is also made of brick and is three stories tall, it looks much simpler.
A Historic Landmark
In 1980, St. Mary's Church and its rectory were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historic buildings. They were chosen because of their special architecture. St. Mary's is one of seventeen places in Delaware that are on this list. Other famous spots include the Delaware County Courthouse and Selby Field at Ohio Wesleyan University.
