Our Lady of Perpetual Help, or as I now call it Our Lady in Need of Help, closed in 1989. The building at 635 Steiner Avenue in Sedamsville was dedicated on May 5, 1889. However the parish was organized by German speaking members of St. Vincent de Paul in 1878. The Gothic Revival style church sits high on a hill overlooking Sedamsville and replaced another church built on Sedam Avenue that was prone to flooding.
I haven't been able to find the architect of the church but plans were approved in April of 1888 and when completed it stood 145' long by 51' wide with a single tower that reached 135' in the air.
The school, built in 1907, closed in 1976 and merged with Holy Family parish in East Price Hill. When Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish closed, the remaining families joined Holy Family as well. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church was stripped of its sacred items and the building was sold. The original church bells and organ were installed at Holy Family as were the icons, originally given to Our Lady in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII.
Holy Family Church is quite beautiful in its own right. The Baroque Revival church was completed in 1915 and was designed by local architect John P. Sheblessy.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help was up for "Crown Jewel" consideration but I've decided against it. She is looking a little more worn up close and is in real need of ongoing maintenance but I have always loved her location.
Historic photo from Library's Cincinnati Memory Project.
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6 comments:
I have always loved that church - very elegant.
That church, located on the dense hillside, and with views of the river are fantastic.
Terrific photos, and lots of info! I visited this church back in August, and again in November. Your write-up about it was very helpful.
This church was not stripped of all ornate decorations... what about the stained glass windows?? Don't they realize the thousands of dollars in value?? ashame to let them get broken by the village idots...
I've always considered Perpetual Help the most beautiful catholic church in Cincinnati and in the most beautiful setting.
So sad to see what has happened to it since its closure in 1989.
Thank you for having taken the time to honor the Parish in which my mother grew up. She cherished her family and community.
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