St. Augustine's Catholic Church (Napoleon, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
St. Augustine's Catholic Church is a historic church in Napoleon
, Ohio
, United States
. Located on the edge of the city's downtown, two blocks
away from the Henry County Courthouse
, the church is a prominent landmark in Napoleon.
was Michael Pietz. The parish was dedicated to St. Augustine in honor of Augustine Pilliod, who supervised the construction of its first building. This structure was replaced with the current church, which was built at a cost of $21,893; although construction was largely completed in 1881, the altars
were not installed until 1888.
: both its exterior and its interior feature many examples of the style. A high ceiling, supported by many Gothic arches
, rises above the sanctuary and its elaborate wooden altar and pew
s. Stained glass
windows on the front, rear, and sides of the church provide light to the interior. The building's exterior, topped with a steeple
that rises 200 feet (61 m) above the ground, is built of brick trimmed
with stone. The entire structure rests on a stone foundation; at the time of construction, small windows lit the basement, but these windows have since been closed with concrete blocks. Other small alterations have been made to the building over the years, including the replacement of the original front doors and wooden steps and the removal of crosses on the building's corners.
Three buildings associated with the church are located nearby. A two-story
brick rectory
, bought by the parish in 1925, sits behind the church, while a Catholic school
lies next door. Across Clinton Street from the church is located a convent
of the Sisters of Notre Dame
, a two-story Italianate
building constructed in 1862.
The tall brick Gothic tower of St. Augustine's Church places its architecture in stark contrast to another historic church on the edge of downtown Napoleon. First Presbyterian Church
, located on Washington Street four blocks southwest of St. Augustine's, features an American Gothic
exterior built of multicolored sandstone
.
for its architectural significance. It is one of four buildings in Henry County that are listed on the Register; the others are the county courthouse, the sheriff's house and jail, and First Presbyterian Church. It remains an active parish of the Diocese of Toledo
and its Our Lady Queen of Peace Deanery.
Napoleon, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,318 people, 3,813 households, and 2,470 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,668.1 people per square mile . There were 4,066 housing units at an average density of 727.9 per square mile...
, 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...
. Located on the edge of the city's downtown, two blocks
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...
away from the Henry County Courthouse
Henry County Courthouse (Ohio)
The Henry County Courthouse is an historic courthouse building in Napoleon, Ohio, United States. Designed in the Second Empire style, it was built in 1880 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1973.-See also:...
, the church is a prominent landmark in Napoleon.
History
St. Augustine Parish was founded at some point between 1856 and 1858; its first priestPriest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
was Michael Pietz. The parish was dedicated to St. Augustine in honor of Augustine Pilliod, who supervised the construction of its first building. This structure was replaced with the current church, which was built at a cost of $21,893; although construction was largely completed in 1881, the altars
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:...
were not installed until 1888.
Architecture
St. Augustine's Church has been rated a fine example of Gothic Revival architectureGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
: both its exterior and its interior feature many examples of the style. A high ceiling, supported by many Gothic arches
Ogive
An ogive is the roundly tapered end of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object.-Applied physical science and engineering:In ballistics or aerodynamics, an ogive is a pointed, curved surface mainly used to form the approximately streamlined nose of a bullet or other projectile.The traditional...
, rises above the sanctuary and its elaborate wooden altar and pew
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
s. Stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows on the front, rear, and sides of the church provide light to the interior. The building's exterior, topped with a steeple
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
that rises 200 feet (61 m) above the ground, is built of brick trimmed
Molding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
with stone. The entire structure rests on a stone foundation; at the time of construction, small windows lit the basement, but these windows have since been closed with concrete blocks. Other small alterations have been made to the building over the years, including the replacement of the original front doors and wooden steps and the removal of crosses on the building's corners.
Three buildings associated with the church are located nearby. A two-story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
brick rectory
Rectory
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...
, bought by the parish in 1925, sits behind the church, while a Catholic 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...
lies next door. Across Clinton Street from the church is located a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of the Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame is a worldwide order of Roman Catholic nuns devoted to primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Their life in mission centers on prayer, community life and ministry...
, a two-story 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...
building constructed in 1862.
The tall brick Gothic tower of St. Augustine's Church places its architecture in stark contrast to another historic church on the edge of downtown Napoleon. First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church (Napoleon, Ohio)
First Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian church in the city of Napoleon, Ohio, United States. Located at 303 W. Washington Street, it has been recognized as a historic site because of its unusual architecture.-Early history:...
, located on Washington Street four blocks southwest of St. Augustine's, features an American Gothic
American Gothic
American Gothic is a painting by Grant Wood, in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood's inspiration came from a cottage designed in the Gothic Revival style with a distinctive upper window and a decision to paint the house along with "the kind of people I fancied should live in that...
exterior built of multicolored sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
.
Recent history
In 1982, the church 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...
for its architectural significance. It is one of four buildings in Henry County that are listed on the Register; the others are the county courthouse, the sheriff's house and jail, and First Presbyterian Church. It remains an active parish of the Diocese of Toledo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo is a Roman Catholic diocese covering nineteen counties in Ohio. It was established April 15, 1910. Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral is the mother church of the diocese.-Bishops:...
and its Our Lady Queen of Peace Deanery.
Further reading
- Aldrich, Lewis Cass. History of Henry and Fulton Counties, Ohio. N.p.: D. Mason, 1888.
External links
- Church website
- Profile from the Diocese of Toledo