St. Patrick's Catholic Church (Glynwood, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
St. Patrick's Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in Glynwood
, an unincorporated community
in Moulton Township
, Auglaize County
, Ohio
, United States
. Located north of U.S. Route 33
between St. Marys
and Wapakoneta
, the church was built in 1883 in the Gothic Revival
style. It is one of many large Catholic churches in a region of rural western Ohio known as the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
," which was settled by primarily Catholic immigrants during the nineteenth century.
counties during this time were primarily German
, St. Thomas' was established by Irish
settlers. Mass
was celebrated in private homes until a leading member donated land for a cemetery
and church, which was built in 1860. Starting in the 1840s, the church was served by priests of the Society of the Precious Blood
who were based at Minster
, approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) to the south.
and natural gas
in the region and the coming of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad
; when the railroad built a depot
in Six Mile, it renamed the community for local resident John Glynn. St. Thomas' Church also grew, reaching the point that the old frame
church was becoming too small for the number of parishioners. Accordingly, the cornerstone was laid for a new brick church in 1883. In this same year, the parish was rededicated for Saint Patrick
, the patron saint
of Ireland; the cemetery retained its former name.
Architectural historians have divided the Precious Blood-related churches of western Ohio into multiple generations. Only a few buildings remain from the first generation, which consisted primarily of small wooden churches, and only St. John's Church in Fryburg to the east remains essentially unchanged. Replacing these wooden buildings were the churches of the second generation, which were generally small brick buildings without tall spires. St. Patrick's occupies of a transitional place between the churches of the second and third generations; although it is a small brick building that replaced an early wooden church, its tower resembles those of the High Gothic Revival churches of the third generation.
. Twenty-seven other churches, including the old mother church in Minster, were added to the Register at the same time.
Today, St. Patrick's remains an active parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
. It is clustered with Holy Rosary parish
in St. Marys, and both churches are a part of the St. Marys Deanery.
Glynwood, Ohio
Glynwood is an unincorporated community located in southwestern Moulton Township, in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States.It is located between Wapakoneta and Saint Marys. The community is served by the Saint Marys City School District and the Saint Marys post office.A community landmark is St...
, 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 Moulton Township
Moulton Township, Auglaize County, Ohio
Moulton Township is one of the fourteen townships of Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,704 people in the township, 1,682 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, Auglaize County
Auglaize County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,611 people, 17,376 households, and 12,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 18,470 housing units at an average density of 46 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 north of U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 is a United States federal highway that runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en route. Although most odd-numbered U.S...
between St. Marys
St. Marys, Ohio
St. Marys is a city in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,342 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta, Ohio
Wapakoneta is a city in and the county seat of Auglaize County, Ohio, United States with a population of 9,474 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio Micropolitan S A, which is included in the Lima-Van Wert-Wapakoneta, Ohio CSA...
, the church was built in 1883 in the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style. It is one of many large Catholic churches in a region of rural western Ohio 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...
," which was settled by primarily Catholic immigrants during the nineteenth century.
Establishment
The parish was founded as St. Thomas' Church in the community of Six Mile in 1857. While most Catholic churches established in Auglaize and MercerMercer 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:...
counties during this time were primarily 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....
, St. Thomas' was established by Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
settlers. Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
was celebrated in private homes until a leading member donated land for 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...
and church, which was built in 1860. Starting in the 1840s, the church was served by priests of the Society 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...
who were based at Minster
Minster, Ohio
Minster is a village in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,794 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) to the south.
Expansion
During the 1870s, Six Mile prospered due to the discovery of oilPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
in the region and the coming of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad
Lake Erie and Western Railroad
The Lake Erie and Western Railroad was a railroad that operated in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.-The beginning:The Seney Syndicate linked several short railroads in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois to form the Lake Erie and Western Railroad in 1879 and 1880...
; when the railroad built a depot
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in Six Mile, it renamed the community for local resident John Glynn. St. Thomas' Church also grew, reaching the point that the old 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...
church was becoming too small for the number of parishioners. Accordingly, the cornerstone was laid for a new brick church in 1883. In this same year, the parish was rededicated for Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Ireland; the cemetery retained its former name.
Architectural historians have divided the Precious Blood-related churches of western Ohio into multiple generations. Only a few buildings remain from the first generation, which consisted primarily of small wooden churches, and only St. John's Church in Fryburg to the east remains essentially unchanged. Replacing these wooden buildings were the churches of the second generation, which were generally small brick buildings without tall spires. St. Patrick's occupies of a transitional place between the churches of the second and third generations; although it is a small brick building that replaced an early wooden church, its tower resembles those of the High Gothic Revival churches of the third generation.
Recent history
In 1979, St. Patrick's Church was recognized for its architecture by being 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...
. Twenty-seven other churches, including the old mother church in Minster, were added to the Register at the same time.
Today, St. Patrick's remains an active parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Roman 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...
. It is clustered with Holy Rosary parish
Holy Rosary Catholic Church (St. Marys, Ohio)
Holy Rosary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish on the east side of St. Marys, Ohio, United States. Established in 1852, the church has been recognized for its historic 1860s church building, which was demolished amid a period of growth in the 1970s and replaced with a modern...
in St. Marys, and both churches are a part of the St. Marys Deanery.