St. John's Catholic Church (Delphos, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
St. John's Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church on the Allen County
side of Delphos
, Ohio
, United States
. Designed by S.W. Lane, it has been recognized as a historic site
because of its architecture.
was established in 1842 by German
Catholic settlers who had immigrated from Osnabrück
. Although the church was afflicted by a cholera
epidemic in 1854, it grew to the point that it was split into two parishes, with the members in Landeck being erected into a separate parish. Land was donated for the construction of the present church building by Frederick Bredeick; construction began in 1879 and concluded in the following year. As the village of Delphos grew with the Miami and Erie Canal
, the parish's prosperity likewise increased; like St. Michael's Catholic Church in Shelby County
to the south, the church's architecture demonstrates the wealth that came from the commerce along the canal.
, two rows of columns in the nave
that are topped with Corinthian
capitals, and an altar built to resemble that of Rome's Basilica di San Clemente
. Architectural experts have deemed the interior unmatched in western Ohio.
style — several counties in far western Ohio have been nicknamed the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
" because of the dominance of Gothic Revival churches in the region — and such a large Romanesque Revival
church is unique. It fills an entire city block
, and its tower is by far the most prominent part of the community's skyline; accordingly, it has been likened to a cathedral
.
because of its architectural significance. It is the only church on the National Register in Allen County, and one of three buildings in Delphos so to be recognized.
Allen County, Ohio
Allen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. Its population was 106,331 as of the 2010 census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Lima–Van Wert–Wapakoneta Combined Statistical Area....
side of Delphos
Delphos, Ohio
Delphos is a city in Allen and Van Wert Counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It had a population of 6,944 at the 2000 census.The Allen County portion of Delphos is part of the Lima Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Van Wert County portion is part of the Van Wert Micropolitan Statistical...
, 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...
. Designed by S.W. Lane, it has been recognized as a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
because of its architecture.
Parish history
St. John's ParishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
was established in 1842 by German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Catholic settlers who had immigrated from Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
. Although the church was afflicted by a cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic in 1854, it grew to the point that it was split into two parishes, with the members in Landeck being erected into a separate parish. Land was donated for the construction of the present church building by Frederick Bredeick; construction began in 1879 and concluded in the following year. As the village of Delphos grew with the Miami and Erie Canal
Miami and Erie Canal
The Miami and Erie Canal was a canal that connected the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio with Lake Erie in Toledo, Ohio. Construction on the canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1845. It consisted of 19 aqueducts, three guard locks, and 103 canal locks. Each lock measured by and they...
, the parish's prosperity likewise increased; like St. Michael's Catholic Church in Shelby County
Shelby County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,910 people, 17,636 households, and 13,085 families residing in the county. The population density was 117 people per square mile . There were 18,682 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
to the south, the church's architecture demonstrates the wealth that came from the commerce along the canal.
Interior
Leading features of the church's interior include a prominent rib vaultRib vault
The intersection of two or three barrel vaults produces a rib vault or ribbed vault when they are edged with an armature of piped masonry often carved in decorative patterns; compare groin vault, an older form of vault construction...
, two rows of columns in the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
that are topped with Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
capitals, and an altar built to resemble that of Rome's Basilica di San Clemente
Basilica di San Clemente
The Basilica of Saint Clement is a Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Pope Clement I located in Rome, Italy. Archaeologically speaking, the structure is a three-tiered complex of buildings: the present basilica built just before the year 1100 during the height of the Middle Ages; beneath...
. Architectural experts have deemed the interior unmatched in western Ohio.
Exterior
Outside, the church's exterior is also striking. Although many large Catholic churches are located in western Ohio, they are more typically built in the Gothic RevivalGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style — several counties in far western Ohio have been nicknamed the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
The Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches is a rural region in the western part of the U.S. state of Ohio, centered near Maria Stein in Mercer County. Its name is derived from the dense concentration of large Catholic churches that dominate the area's architecture...
" because of the dominance of Gothic Revival churches in the region — and such a large Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
church is unique. It fills an entire city block
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
, and its tower is by far the most prominent part of the community's skyline; accordingly, it has been likened to a cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
.
Recognition
In 1980, St. John's Church was listed on 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...
because of its architectural significance. It is the only church on the National Register in Allen County, and one of three buildings in Delphos so to be recognized.