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| Ohio Catholic church boasts Romanesque architecture |
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BURKETTSVILLE, Ohio — Nestled between the cornfields and soybean fields in rural Ohio is an architectural masterpiece: St. Bernard Catholic Church, in the small town of Burkettsville.
Because of the presence of 30 other extraordinary Roman Catholic churches within a 22-mile radius, this part of Ohio treasures being the Area of Cross-Tipped Churches. St. Bernard was founded in 1874 by six German pioneer families. The two-acre plot for the church was donated by Bernard Romer.
This was the ideal area to construct a church because of its slightly higher elevation and prominent location on Main Street. By 1875, the first frame church was completed; this church measured 35-by-60-feet.
Around 1902, the expansion of the parish family mandated more space in which to worship. In that year, a 40-foot addition was constructed and the building was enhanced by frescos, stained-glass windows and new pews. On Oct. 1, 1914, donations were accepted to construct a new building to accommodate the growing congregation.
By the end of the month, $35,000 was raised and estimates for the new structure were received. J.F. Sheblessy from Cincinnati, Ohio, was selected as the architect for the building. Unlike the Gothic Revival style of the other local churches, a Romanesque style was selected for St. Bernard. This style is associated with rounded domes and a short, stocky building, accompanied by magnificent stained-glass windows.
Excavation for the new church basement began in August 1915. The construction came to an abrupt halt, though, when the United States entered World War I. The building process began again in 1922. On March 15 that year, the construction of the upper church structure was contracted with Medland Brothers of Logansport, Ind.
The cornerstone was laid on Aug. 20, 1922, the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. The construction was completed after nine years and the spectacular church was dedicated on Aug. 3, 1924 – the 50th anniversary of the founding of St. Bernard Church. The new structure was built for $72,000.
This new church displays the dedication to the Holy Trinity through the structure and three main entrances. The three stained-glass windows on the second story emphasize the relationship within the Holy Trinity. The stained-glass windows within the church depict many saints, along with the Glorious and Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.
This parish now is blessed with more than 240 families, totaling 754 members.
-Rachel Niekamp |
| 1/6/2010 |
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