Posted February 2, 200718 yr In many cities, churches make up some of the most dramatic and architecturally impressive structures. Hamilton is no exception. Besides the larger congregations downtown, smaller churches are scattered across the neighborhoods of the city. While some older congregations struggle to survive with competion from today's more contemporary church model, others prosper in their historic structures. So, I must ask, which is your favorite? 1) Saint Joesph Roman Catholic Church -Southeast Neighborhood -Romanesque Revival -Parish Organized 1965, splitting from St. Stephen -Dedicated Sept. 15, 1867 -Interior features ornate ceiling painting from the 1890’s -A tornado toppled the steeple in 1877 -Saint Joesph School dedicated in 1924 Rectory St. Joesph Consolidated School Rookwood Tile over the entrances The Notre Dame Academy, the central Catholic high school for girls. This building is located across from St. Joesph, but students from all parishes attended. The school closed in 1966 when Baden was built in New London Hills, bringing both girls and boys together into the same high school. Today, it has been renovated into senior apartments and is listed on the National Register. 2) Saint Stephen Roman Catholic Church -German Village -Late Gothic Revival -Parish Organized 1843 as the fifth parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnait -Forty congregations can trace their beginnings to St. Stephen, some as far as Piqua, Ohio -First church constructed in 1836 -Present building built around first structure in 1853 -Transepts added in 1893, extending the church to a total length of 200 feet. -In 1912, a new, $30,000 façade was constructed over the old church structure and the building was rededicated. -In 1930, the Fenmont Center opened as a recreation center for Hamilton. It included a swimming pool, ten bowling alleys, an auditorim and stage, a library, kitchen, dining room, and reading rooms. -Listed on National Register in 1982 -In 1989, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati ordered the merger of three Hamilton parishes, St. Mary, St. Veronica, and St. Stephen. St. Stephen was renamed Saint Julie Billart and became home to the consolidated parish. -After the merger, a complete renovation was started on the building, and on May 12, 1990, the interior was ravaged by fire and almost completely lost. Although rebuilt, the present church no longer features aisles and colonnades like it once boasted. Hamilton’s growing Hispanic population prompted the creation of a Spanish service St. Julie today St. Stephen in the 1920’s or 30’s Rectory The interior of St. Stephen in the 1940’s. The original, plainer façade and old St. Stephen’s School Today, St. Julie Billart School operates in the former St. Veronica School in East Hamilton The Fenmont Center Hamilton Central Catholic High School, the central high school for Catholic boys in Hamilton. For lack of a better place, I’m grouping this with St. Stephen, although it served all Hamilton parishes, much like Notre Dame for the girls. Constructed in 1923, the school is in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Today, it houses the Hamilton City Schools Board of Education 3) Saint Ann Roman Catholic Church -Lindenwald -Parish organized in 1911 -A combination structure was completed in 1911 containing both the school and sanctuary. -Present church completed in 1936 -The church was designed by Edward J. Schulte, a famous Cincinnati Church architect Strangely, every shot I took of this statue has light reflecting off of it as seen. Rectory St. Ann’s School, originally a combination of the school and church, it featured a copula a flat roof. 4) St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church -Downtown -Greek Revival -Parish organized in 1848 for Irish Catholics -Present Building constructed in 1857 -The parish had plans for a new church building in the 20’s, but they were never realized. -A new school was dedicated on High Street, several blocks away from St. Mary’s in 1920. -On November 29, 1970, a fire broke out in the church, destroying the gothic steeple and interior. -New furnishings were installed, but the steeple wasn’t rebuilt because of plans for a campanile or carillion that never came to fuition. -The structure is now home to Front Street Church of God The post fire structure looks quite odd without a steeple New doors were hand carved in Mexico from Philippine Mahogany The proposed new building. St. Mary’s School, now St. Raphael, a social services agency St. Mary’s can be seen at the left of this old image 5) Saint Peter in Chains Roman Catholic Church -Prospect Hill -Parish organized in 1893 for Catholics living in the west side of Hamilton -A combination structure was completed in 1906 containing both the school and sanctuary. -A new Sanctuary was built beside the school in the early 1960’s Modern sanctuary St. Peter in Chains School Old sanctuary Rectory 6) Trinity Episcopal Church -Dayton-Campbell Historic District -English Gothic Style -Parish dates back to 1823, when it was known as St. Matthews -Present church constructed in 1888 -The church was designed by the A.C. Nash, a respected Cincinnati architect -“Adoration of the Magi,” the large stained glass window over the altar, was made in Austria and is believed to be one of only two in the world. 7) First Methodist Episcopal Church -Downtown -Romanesque Revival -Congregation organized in 1818 -In 1894, the congregation dedicated its third church building, an impressive stone structure with an attached parsonage -On February 25, 1924, the building was completely lost to fire -The present church was completed in 1926 -Today, the congregation is simply known as First Methodist Church The front entrance features Rookwood Tile The previous building The church struggled during the depression and it wasn’t until 1948 that the church became debt free. My great-great-grandfather played a large role in making this possible, but was deceased by 1948. Here, my great-great-grandmother burns the mortgage. The program, Arthur M. Brate is my great-great-grandfather. A glimpse of the full sanctuary that day. 8) German Methodist Church -Downtown -Congregation organized in 1838 -In the 1850’s it was renamed German M.E. Church and later, Grace Methodist Church -In 1954, the structure was sold to the Payne Chaple African Methodist Church, who occupies the structure today. In the late 90’s the church added a new sanctuary to the building 9) First English United Brethren Church -Highland Park -Congregation organized in 1905 to provide services in English -Present church constructed in 1908 -A major addition was completed in the 1940’s -Today, the congregation is known as Park Avenue Methodist, although the building faces Dick Avenue Clues to former congregation affiliation Before the addition 10) Ninth Street United Brethren Church -Jefferson -Congregation dates back to 1860’s -Present structure completed in 1891 for $12,000 -The later Methodist congregation discontinued services around 2000 and the building is used Living Water Ministries 11) First Presbyterian Church -Downtown -Congregation has roots back to 1791 -Formally organized in 1805 -Present church was built in 1855 -In 1942, the church was enlarged and wrapped in a new brick veneer. The octagonal cupola was replaces with a traditional spire at this time. -Today, it is simply known as The Presbyterian Church and has a strong presecence in the Hamilton community Recently, the church installed a sign at the corner of High and Front which they use to announce church and community events alike. Located across from the courthouse, the church installed the 10 Commandments during the recent court battles. The church also embraced the City of Sculpture movement The church before the 1942 remodeling 12) United Presbyterian Church -Downtown -Organized in 1816 as the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church -In 1902, the congregation dedicated a new auditorium which was destroyed by fire in 1934 -The present church rose from the ashes in 1935 and incorporates the 1902 bell tower -Today, the building serves as a second sanctuary for The Presbyterian Church The 1852 church The 1902 church And again, the present building incorporating the 1902 bell tower 13) Westminister Presbyterian Church -Dayton-Campbell Historic District -Romanesque with Gothic influences -Congregation split with First Presbyterian in 1894 due to its liberal practices -Present building was completed in 1895 -The church was designed by Cincinnati firm Crapsey and Brown, famous for their Gothic and Romanesque church designs -Westminister merged back with First Presbyterian in 1918, and the Congregationist Church moved into the building. In the 40’s, that congregation merged with First English United Brethern, and the church now houses Calvary Church. CONTINUED HERE! 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February 2, 200718 yr The church was designed by Edward J. Schulte, a famous Cincinnati Church architect I can recognize his hand in at least one Cincinnati church I know.
February 3, 200718 yr It's amazing how many churches from the 1860s that Hamilton still has standing. It's great to see old beautiful churches. My comments in the Lorian High School thread hold the same for chuches. Todays structures are bland and boring.
February 3, 200718 yr Well as a former member of St. Veronica's I never really liked our church and was probably partial to St. Stephen's before the fire. While still the nice, the interiors just are not the same. The interiors of the former St. Mary's and St. Peter's are also average, more modern interiors. St. Ann's is actually lovely both inside and out. I also like the exterior of St. Joe's (possibly my favorite) but it has been a long time since I was inside. I was in First Methodist once when I was young for a wedding and I remember liking the Romanesque interiors. I like both Calvary (Westminister) and Trinity in Dayton Campbell but hate going in Calvary because the entire second floor balcony has been basically covered up as it is too costly to heat and maintain. The interiors and arrangement is similar to First Lutheran on Race St. in Cincinnati and that would make sense as they were both designed by Crapsey & Brown. Oh, and you know for as long as I lived in Hamilton, I never even noticed that the tower at old United was a different color and from the previous church! Ok, so I will rank: 1. St Joe's 2. Calvary 4. St. Stephen's (St. Julie) 4. St. Ann's
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