St. Aloysius' Catholic Church (Carthagena, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
St. Aloysius' Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in Carthagena
, an unincorporated community
in Marion Township
, Mercer County
, Ohio
, United States
. Built in the late nineteenth century, it remains the home of an active parish
, and it has been designated a historic site
because of its well-preserved architecture.
as a settlement for freed slaves
. Due to hostility from their white neighbors, the settlement was disorganized and its residents forced to leave the area by 1857. Local Catholics began to purchase large amounts of land in Cathagena from the departing blacks in 1856; they grew strong enough to establish a school and a cemetery
in 1860, and St. Aloysius'
Church was canonically erected in 1865. In their earliest years, the people worshipped in the chapel of the adjacent St. Charles Seminary. Throughout its history, the church has been significantly influenced by the seminary, which trained the priests of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood
and provided pastors for the church.
As its membership grew, the parish decided to construct a church building. Plans were laid and construction began in 1875; the cornerstone
was laid in May 1877, and the church was consecrated
on June 30, 1878; the parishioners had performed the construction work themselves. Under the pastorate of Gregory Jüssel, the church was greatly modified in the summer of 1905; only the tower and three of the walls remain from the original structure.
structure, five bays
long and three bays wide, and officially one story
high. Built of brick, laid in a stretcher bond
, the walls rest on a foundation of stone rubble
from Piqua
, which includes a basement. A gable
d roof of asphalt covers the rectangular church, which measures 85 feet (25.9 m) long and 45 feet (13.7 m) wide. One of the church's most prominent architectural elements is its tower: equipped with a white-painted wooden belfry
and a tall spire
, the tower rests on its own walls, 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick. The entire building cost approximately $7,500 to erect; much of this amount was donated by other nearby parishes. Inside, the church's sanctuary includes elements such as white-painted altars
and multiple sizes of pew
s: large pews for adults, and miniature pews for children. The interior is lit partially by many large stained glass
windows; added more than 25 years after the church was completed, these windows were purchased by individual families within the parish.
Few elements of the church are original from the 1870s. The middle of 1905 saw the completion of a wide range of alterations, including the removal of the original interior, the addition of a sacristy
, the placement of the present stained glass windows, and the expansion of the sanctuary.
Architectural historians have divided the Precious Blood-related churches of western Ohio into four generations. Most of the first-generation churches were small frame
structures; only four of these buildings (three of which are brick) — have survived; two have been converted for other purposes, one has been greatly modified, and only St. John's Church in Fryburg remains in a condition resembling its original state. St. Aloysius' is a member of the second generation of churches, which comprises the buildings completed between 1865 and 1885. Most of these buildings were simple brick structures with small bell tower
s; conversely, St. Aloysius' was the first church in the region to be designed with a tall tower. Its construction was a turning point in the ecclesiastical architecture of the region: after its construction, most of the area's churches were modified by the construction of similar towers, and later structures were generally designed likewise. Furthermore, Anton DeCurtins' commission to design the church at Carthagena, where he lived, led to similar requests from many other parishes: the churches of the third generation, built between 1885 and 1905, were characteristically large brick High Gothic Revival
structures, dominated by tall towers, and designed by Anton or his sons.
constructed rectories
for their pastors in accord with an archiepiscopal directive in the early twentieth century; however, this was not necessary for St. Aloysius' Church, as its pastors always resided at the seminary. Moreover, two cemeteries are located in close proximity to the church: the original freedmen's cemetery, near U.S. Route 127
west of the church, and the parish cemetery, between the freedmen's cemetery and the church.
surveyed St. Aloysius' Church in 1977 as part of a historic preservation
effort known as the "Ohio Historic Inventory." This survey revealed that the church's interior was in good condition and its exterior in excellent condition; the only likely threats to its integrity were plans for continued interior remodelling. In recognition of its well-preserved architecture, the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979. More than seventy other buildings at over thirty-five locations, including twenty-eight other churches, were listed on the Register at the same time as part of the "Cross-Tipped Churches Thematic Resources", a collection of architecturally significant buildings related to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in far western Ohio. The tall Gothic Revival towers of the many Catholic churches of this region, pioneered by that of St. Aloysius' Church, have become this region's namesake: it is known as the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
."
, St. Francis Parish in Cranberry Prairie, St. Henry Parish
in St. Henry
, and St. Wendelin Parish in St. Wendelin. The entire cluster is a part of the St. Marys Deanery
.
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,...
, an unincorporated community
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Marion Township
Marion Township, Mercer County, Ohio
Marion Township is one of the fourteen townships of Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,969 people in the township, 2,605 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, Mercer County
Mercer County, Ohio
Mercer County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. Its county seat is Celina and is named for Hugh Mercer, an officer in the American Revolutionary War.The Celina Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Mercer County.-Geography:...
, 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 an active parish
Parish
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...
, and it has been designated 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 well-preserved architecture.
Early parish history
The community of Carthagena was founded in 1835 by QuakersReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
as a settlement for freed slaves
Free Negro
A free Negro or free black is the term used prior to the abolition of slavery in the United States to describe African Americans who were not slaves. Almost all African Americans came to the United States as slaves, but from the earliest days of American slavery, slaveholders set men and women free...
. Due to hostility from their white neighbors, the settlement was disorganized and its residents forced to leave the area by 1857. Local Catholics began to purchase large amounts of land in Cathagena from the departing blacks in 1856; they grew strong enough to establish a school and a cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in 1860, and St. Aloysius'
Aloysius Gonzaga
- Early life :Aloysius Gonzaga was born at his family's castle in Castiglione delle Stiviere, between Brescia and Mantova in northern Italy in what was then part of the Papal States. He was a member of the illustrious House of Gonzaga...
Church was canonically erected in 1865. In their earliest years, the people worshipped in the chapel of the adjacent St. Charles Seminary. Throughout its history, the church has been significantly influenced by the seminary, which trained the priests of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood
Missionaries 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...
and provided pastors for the church.
As its membership grew, the parish decided to construct a church building. Plans were laid and construction began in 1875; the cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
was laid in May 1877, and the church was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on June 30, 1878; the parishioners had performed the construction work themselves. Under the pastorate of Gregory Jüssel, the church was greatly modified in the summer of 1905; only the tower and three of the walls remain from the original structure.
Church building
St. Aloysius' Church is a Gothic RevivalGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
structure, five bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
long and three bays wide, and officially one story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
high. Built of brick, laid in a stretcher bond
Brickwork
Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and mortar to build up brick structures such as walls. Brickwork is also used to finish corners, door, and window openings, etc...
, the walls rest on a foundation of stone rubble
Rubble masonry
Rubble masonry is rough, unhewn building stone set in mortar, but not laid in regular courses. It may appear as the outer surface of a wall or may fill the core of a wall which is faced with unit masonry such as brick or cut stone....
from Piqua
Piqua, Ohio
Piqua is a city in Miami County, Ohio, United States. The population was 20,738 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.Piqua was one of the cities that experienced severe flooding during the Great Dayton Flood of 1913....
, which includes a basement. 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 of asphalt covers the rectangular church, which measures 85 feet (25.9 m) long and 45 feet (13.7 m) wide. One of the church's most prominent architectural elements is its tower: equipped with a white-painted wooden 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 a tall spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
, the tower rests on its own walls, 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick. The entire building cost approximately $7,500 to erect; much of this amount was donated by other nearby parishes. Inside, the church's sanctuary includes elements such as white-painted 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:...
and multiple sizes of 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: large pews for adults, and miniature pews for children. The interior is lit partially by many large 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; added more than 25 years after the church was completed, these windows were purchased by individual families within the parish.
Few elements of the church are original from the 1870s. The middle of 1905 saw the completion of a wide range of alterations, including the removal of the original interior, the addition of a sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
, the placement of the present stained glass windows, and the expansion of the sanctuary.
Architectural historians have divided the Precious Blood-related churches of western Ohio into four generations. Most of the first-generation churches were 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...
structures; only four of these buildings (three of which are brick) — have survived; two have been converted for other purposes, one has been greatly modified, and only St. John's Church in Fryburg remains in a condition resembling its original state. St. Aloysius' is a member of the second generation of churches, which comprises the buildings completed between 1865 and 1885. Most of these buildings were simple brick structures with small bell tower
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...
s; conversely, St. Aloysius' was the first church in the region to be designed with a tall tower. Its construction was a turning point in the ecclesiastical architecture of the region: after its construction, most of the area's churches were modified by the construction of similar towers, and later structures were generally designed likewise. Furthermore, Anton DeCurtins' commission to design the church at Carthagena, where he lived, led to similar requests from many other parishes: the churches of the third generation, built between 1885 and 1905, were characteristically large brick High Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
structures, dominated by tall towers, and designed by Anton or his sons.
Related properties
Two school buildings — one frame and one brick — were built approximately 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) west of the church. In order better to serve the parish school, a house was erected for the nuns who taught there after they left the seminary building. Many parishes in the Archdiocese of CincinnatiRoman 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...
constructed rectories
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...
for their pastors in accord with an archiepiscopal directive in the early twentieth century; however, this was not necessary for St. Aloysius' Church, as its pastors always resided at the seminary. Moreover, two cemeteries are located in close proximity to the church: the original freedmen's cemetery, near U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
west of the church, and the parish cemetery, between the freedmen's cemetery and the church.
Recognition
Architectural historians from the Ohio Historical SocietyOhio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
surveyed St. Aloysius' Church in 1977 as part of a historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
effort known as the "Ohio Historic Inventory." This survey revealed that the church's interior was in good condition and its exterior in excellent condition; the only likely threats to its integrity were plans for continued interior remodelling. In recognition of its well-preserved architecture, the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National 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...
in 1979. More than seventy other buildings at over thirty-five locations, including twenty-eight other churches, were listed on the Register at the same time as part of the "Cross-Tipped Churches Thematic Resources", a collection of architecturally significant buildings related to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in far western Ohio. The tall Gothic Revival towers of the many Catholic churches of this region, pioneered by that of St. Aloysius' Church, have become this region's namesake: it is known as 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...
."
Current status
St. Aloysius' Church continues as an active parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to the present day. It is part of the St. Henry Cluster, along with St. Bernard Parish in BurkettsvilleBurkettsville, 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, St. Henry Parish
St. Henry's Catholic Church (St. Henry, Ohio)
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.-Early...
in St. Henry
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...
, 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 :...
.