St. Stephen's Catholic Church (Cleveland, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Stephen Church
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Front view of the Church
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 Location in Cleveland
Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1930 W. 54th St., Cleveland, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architect | Cudell & Richardson |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001052 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1977 |
St. Stephen Church is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in Cleveland, Ohio. It's located in the Detroit-Shoreway area on the city's west side. This amazing building was designed by architects Cudell & Richardson. It was built in 1875 and is known for its Gothic style. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Contents
History of St. Stephen Church
Why Was St. Stephen Church Built?
St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church started in 1869. Cleveland needed a second church for German-speaking Catholic families. The first German church, St. Mary's, had become too crowded.
In April 1869, Bishop Louis Amadeus Rappe of Cleveland asked Father Stephen Falk to build a new place. This building would have a church upstairs and a school downstairs. It was meant for about 200 families from St. Mary's who lived west of 44th Street.
Early Years and Growth
Father Casimir Reichlin became the first leader of St. Stephen's. He held the first Mass on May 1, 1870. He led the church for 38 years!
By 1873, Father Reichlin saw that the church needed a bigger building. The number of families was growing fast. So, the Cleveland firm Cudell & Richardson was hired to design a new church. This is the same building you see today.
Building the New Church
Building the new church was not easy. There was an economic downturn in the mid-1870s. This meant work on the church had to stop. But the church members really wanted their new building. They even mortgaged their own homes to raise money!
The new church was finally finished and opened on November 20, 1881. Bishop Richard Gilmour of Cleveland led the special opening ceremony. German and Hungarian woodworkers from the community volunteered their time. They helped finish the beautiful inside of the church.
Changes Over the Years
For the next 40 years, the church community grew even more. They added a rectory, which is where the priests live. They also built a convent for the Sisters of Notre Dame. Two school buildings were added, including a high school for girls that opened in 1905.
After World War II, many people moved to Cleveland. St. Stephen's parish became very busy and had many members.
On June 8, 1953, a tornado hit the church. It caused a lot of damage to the building. But people worked quickly to fix it. The church was reopened just a few months later, on November 6, 1953.
Later Years and Today
In the late 1960s, fewer families lived near the church. Many moved to the suburbs. St. Stephen's high school had its last graduating class in 1970. The elementary school classes then moved into the old high school building.
In 1986, St. Stephen School joined with St. Michael and St. Boniface Schools. Together, they formed a new school called Metro Catholic School.
St. Stephen's was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 1977. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. In 2010, many churches in Cleveland had to close. But Bishop Richard Lennon decided to keep St. Stephen's open. This was because of its important history.
Architecture and Design
The St. Stephen Church building is made completely of stone. Most of the stone is called Amherst stone. The architects Cudell & Richardson designed it. The church is 165 feet long and 74 feet wide.
The church is built in the Gothic style. This style often has tall arches and detailed carvings. The shape of the church is called cruciform. This means it looks like a cross from above.
Inside the church, there are six huge wooden pillars on each side of the main altar. These pillars branch out into many smaller columns. The main altar, the side altars, and the pulpit are all made of oak wood. They have beautiful wood carvings from Germany. Even the church pews, where people sit, are made of oak.
Over the years, a special rail made of Mexican onyx and brass was added. This is called a Communion rail. The floor of the sanctuary and the aisles are made of black and white marble tiles.
St. Stephen Church Today
St. Stephen's is still a very active Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Cleveland. This means it has a full staff and a church council. They hold regular Sunday Masses and daily Masses.
- German Mass: A special Mass in German is offered every first Sunday at 11 AM.
- Latin Mass: St. Stephen's also offers Tridentine Latin Masses every Sunday at 9:30 AM. They also have daily Latin Masses at different times. Father Bede Kotlinski, OSB, leads the Latin Mass.
- Staff: The current Pastor is Father Caroli B. Shao. Reverend Mr. Moises Cruz is a Permanent Deacon.
St. Stephen's hosts many church events and fundraisers. They also help promote events from other local churches. The church supports home school events too.
Keeping with its German history, St. Stephen's offers a German summer camp. This camp helps children learn German in a fun way. They do crafts, play games, and go on scavenger hunts. Kids don't need to know any German to join the camp.
The parish also celebrates "Priesthood Sunday." This day celebrates priests and their role in the Catholic Church. Church members are encouraged to pray for priests and thank them.
