St. Henry's Catholic Church (St. Henry, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
St. Henry's Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in St. Henry
, Ohio
, United States
. Built in the late nineteenth century, it remains the home of a functioning congregation, and it has been recognized as a historically significant building because of its architecture.
, it was named for Henry II
, who reigned as Holy Roman Emperor
during the eleventh century. At that time, there were few Catholics in St. Henry and the surrounding Granville Township
; consequently, the congregation's first church building (erected in 1840) was a small frame
structure. It was replaced by a brick church that was completed in 1854 at a cost of $7,000.
The church is a Gothic Revival
structure, built in the shape of a Latin cross. Its exterior consists of brick walls and a gable
d roof, upheld by a stone foundation. The most prominent aspect of its exterior is a massive belfry
and clock tower
, approximately 200 feet (60 m) tall. Large rose window
s illuminate the interior, which features painted and fresco
ed walls; the distance from the floor to the apex
of the ceiling vault
is 62 feet (19 m). A major renovation project in the 1970s led to significant changes in the sanctuary, including the removal of statues and its High Gothic altar
.
Architectural historians have divided the Precious Blood-related churches of western Ohio into four generations. St. Henry's is typical of the churches of the third generation, which are generally Gothic structures with a single central tower.
lies next to the church's eastern side. Built in 1901, it combines a range of architectural styles into an elaborate house. Located behind the rectory are a catechetical
and a parochial elementary school
. An older parochial school was once located on the church's western side; built in the Italianate
style in 1905, it served as a public junior high school
after the church discontinued its use.
. Thirty-three other buildings related to the Society of the Precious Blood, including twenty-six churches, were added to the Register at the same time.
Today, St. Henry's remains an active parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
. It is part of the St. Henry Cluster, along with St. Aloysius Parish
in Carthagena
, St. Bernard Parish in Burkettsville
, St. Francis Parish in Cranberry Prairie, and St. Wendelin Parish in St. Wendelin. The entire cluster is a part of the St. Marys Deanery
.
St. Henry, Ohio
St. Henry is a village in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,271 at the 2000 census.-History:Located at the center of the village is St. Henry's Catholic Church. Completed in 1897, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-Geography:St. Henry is located at...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in the late nineteenth century, it remains the home of a functioning congregation, and it has been recognized as a historically significant building because of its architecture.
Early history
St. Henry Parish was established in 1839, two years after the village of St. Henry was founded. Served by the Missionaries of the Precious BloodMissionaries of the Precious Blood
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood form a community of priests and brothers within the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the universal Catholic Church. The Society was founded by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815...
, it was named for Henry II
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
, who reigned as Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
during the eleventh century. At that time, there were few Catholics in St. Henry and the surrounding Granville Township
Granville Township, Mercer County, Ohio
Granville Township is one of the fourteen townships of Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,885 people in the township, 1,434 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
; consequently, the congregation's first church building (erected in 1840) was a small frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
structure. It was replaced by a brick church that was completed in 1854 at a cost of $7,000.
Current structure
By the 1890s, the membership of St. Henry's Church had grown to the point that a new church building was necessary. Construction began on the new structure in 1895; while much of the construction work was performed by parishioners, the design was the responsibility of architect J. Anton Decurtins. Construction was finished in 1897, at a cost of approximately $100,000. An estimate in the early twentieth century pronounced the church the most costly in northwestern Ohio.The church is a Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
structure, built in the shape of a Latin cross. Its exterior consists of brick walls and a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof, upheld by a stone foundation. The most prominent aspect of its exterior is a massive belfry
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
and clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
, approximately 200 feet (60 m) tall. Large rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
s illuminate the interior, which features painted and fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
ed walls; the distance from the floor to the apex
Apex (geometry)
In geometry, an apex is the vertex which is in some sense the highest of the figure to which it belongs.*In an isosceles triangle, the apex is the vertex where the two sides of equal length meet, opposite the unequal third side....
of the ceiling vault
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
is 62 feet (19 m). A major renovation project in the 1970s led to significant changes in the sanctuary, including the removal of statues and its High Gothic altar
Altar (Catholicism)
In the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, the altar is where the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Mass may sometimes be celebrated outside a sacred place, but never without an altar, or at least an altar stone.-Precedent:...
.
Architectural historians have divided the Precious Blood-related churches of western Ohio into four generations. St. Henry's is typical of the churches of the third generation, which are generally Gothic structures with a single central tower.
Associated buildings
A brick rectoryRectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
lies next to the church's eastern side. Built in 1901, it combines a range of architectural styles into an elaborate house. Located behind the rectory are a catechetical
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
and a parochial elementary school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
. An older parochial school was once located on the church's western side; built in the Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
style in 1905, it served as a public junior high school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
after the church discontinued its use.
Recent history
An architectural survey performed in 1977 rated the exterior of St. Henry's Church in good condition. Two years later, the church was recognized for its architecture and its high quality of preservation when it was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Thirty-three other buildings related to the Society of the Precious Blood, including twenty-six churches, were added to the Register at the same time.
Today, St. Henry's remains an active parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
. It is part of the St. Henry Cluster, along with St. Aloysius Parish
St. Aloysius' Catholic Church (Carthagena, Ohio)
St. Aloysius' Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in Carthagena, an unincorporated community in Marion Township, Mercer County, Ohio, United States...
in Carthagena
Carthagena, Ohio
Carthagena is an unincorporated community in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. It has an elevation of and is located at .The Saint Charles Center, originally Saint Charles Seminary, operated by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood is located in Carthagena.Carthagena is named after Cartagena,...
, St. Bernard Parish in Burkettsville
Burkettsville, Ohio
Burkettsville is a village in Darke and Mercer counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 254 at the 2000 census.-History:Burkettsville was founded after the construction of a railroad line through northern Darke County in 1883...
, St. Francis Parish in Cranberry Prairie, and St. Wendelin Parish in St. Wendelin. The entire cluster is a part of the St. Marys Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
.
Further reading
- Alig, Joyce. A History of Saint Henry, Ohio. NewportNewport, KentuckyNewport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which...
: Zimmerman, 1972. - Miller, James E., C.P.P.S.Missionaries of the Precious BloodThe Missionaries of the Precious Blood form a community of priests and brothers within the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the universal Catholic Church. The Society was founded by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815...
"St. Henry Catholic Parish Has Long Active History." The Daily Standard November 16, 1950.