Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church

Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church (Columbus, Ohio)
St. Mary Church or Grand Old St. Mary's
Saint Mary Church in the springtime
Location	684 South 3rd Street in Columbus, Ohio
Country	USA
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.stmarygv.com
Architecture
Heritage designation	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Designated	December 30, 1974
Architect(s)	Blackburn and Koehler[1]
Style	Gothic revival[1]
Groundbreaking	1866[1]
Completed	1893[1]
Construction cost	$40,000[1]
Specifications
Length	140 feet (43 m)[2]
Width	62.5 feet (19 m)[2]
Height	75 feet (23 m)[2]
Number of spires	1
Spire height	197 feet (60 m)[2]
Materials	Brick
Bells	3[1]
Administration
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Location	Columbus, Ohio
Coordinates	39°56′55.4″N 82°59′41.2″W / 39.948722°N 82.994778°WCoordinates: 39°56′55.4″N 82°59′41.2″W / 39.948722°N 82.994778°W
Part of	German Village (#74001490[3])
Designated CP	December 30, 1974

Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church (commonly known as St. Mary Church or Grand Old St. Mary’s^[1]) is the third oldest Catholic church building in Columbus, Ohio^[4] and is home to an active parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus. The church's name refers to the ancient Christian belief that the mother of Jesus Christ was "assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."^[5] The church spire towers 197 feet (60 m) above street level making it a prominent landmark and the tallest building in the historic German Village neighborhood south of downtown Columbus. ^[6] With the rest of German Village, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 30, 1974.

Early History and Construction

In the year 1865, approximately one third of the Columbus population was ethnically German due to decades of immigration. Many German immigrants settled in the South End neighborhood (as German Village was then called).^[7] The Catholic population had outgrown nearby Holy Cross Church^[1] and the German-speaking South End residents wanted their own parish.^[2] It was in that same year, St. Mary's parish was formed with the newly ordained Fr. Francis X. Sprecht^[2] as its first pastor. Construction began in 1866 and the church was dedicated two years later by Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans on November 29, 1868. The spire was erected in 1893 at a price of $5000. The clock was installed the next year.^[8]

150th Anniversary

On August 14, 2015, the church undertook a motorcade featuring a mobile carillon as part of the celebration for the parish's 150th anniversary and its 90th Homecoming Festival. The current pastor, Father Kevin Lutz, regaled onlookers in downtown Columbus and German Village with hymns played on the 48-bell carillon. The motorcade reenacted the November 1868 procession which preceded the church's dedication.^[9]

References

1. Betti, Tom; Lentz, Ed; Uhas Sauer, Doreen (2013). Columbus Neighborhoods: A Guide to the Landmarks of Franklinton, German Village, King-Lincoln, Olde Town East, Short North & the University District. Charleston, SC: The History Press. ISBN 978-1-60949-669-2.
2. "Welcome to St. Mary’s". St. Mary Church history. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
3. Staff (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
4. Puet, Tim. "St. Joseph Cathedral" (PDF).
5. Pope Pius XII: "Munificentissimus Deus - Defining the Dogma of the Assumption", par. 44. Vatican, November 1, 1950
6. "What to Expect in German Village".
7. "History of German Village". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
8. "Welcome to St. Mary's - yesterday and today".
9. "Onlookers attracted by 48-bell carillon and St. Mary parade to German Village".