Historic Catholic Churches of Cincinnati

Part VI: 1940 – 1969

A nine part Sunday series on the still remaining and architecturally significant Catholic churches of Cincinnati from 1840 - 1969.

This series is an attempt to document every historic Catholic Church remaining in Cincinnati. This is not a list of every church, nor is it a history of each Parish. It is simply to serve as a reference for the date of dedication, the architect and style of the church buildings themselves. Included are those that I find to have architectural or historical merit from the Catholic Church’s earliest beginnings in Cincinnati to those churches built just after Vatican II.

The architecture of Cincinnati Catholic churches from about World War II takes a decidedly modern turn. Some Parish histories indicate lack of funds or even a lack of building materials during the war years causing modifications to their plans. Churches are in many cases simplified or redesigned. The rise of Modernism with a “less is more” design aesthetic also then lends itself to building less costly churches with less expensive adornment.

Also note that many church complexes that eventually were completed during this time period in many cases were begun decades earlier. Entire master plans for a school, rectory, and church were completed and constructed as funds were available. A “temporary” church or multi-functional space was completed and eventually it was scheduled to be replaced by a much larger church. In the case of our last church Guardian Angels, the existing gymnasium was the church and used as such from 1949 until 1965. Construction on the new church would last until 1971. Since the entire campus was started so much earlier, I have included it here but it is the only example dedicated after 1969.


San Antonio Church
Fairmount – 1948 Queen City Avenue
Dedicated: 1940
Architect: Edward J. Schulte
Style: Traditional
Closed in 1993

An Archbishop McNicholas Mission Church

St. Richard of Chichester
College Hill – 2120 North Bend Road
Dedicated: 1946
Architect: Unknown
Style: Colonial Revival
Closed in 1992

An Archbishop McNicholas Mission Church

Our Lady of the Presentation
Fairmount - 2012 Westwood Northern Boulevard
Dedicated: 1950
Architect: Maguolo & Quick
Style: Colonial Revival
Closed in 1995; now used by Willing Spirit Baptist Church.

St. Margaret – St. John
Original Name: St. Margaret of Cortona
Madisonville – 4100 Watterson Street
Dedicated: 1951
Architect: George McDonald
Style: Art Deco/Modern

Holy Name
Mt. Auburn – 2448 Auburn Avenue
Dedicated: 1951
Architect: Unknown
Style: Modified Gothic Revival
Located in the Mount Auburn National Historic District

St. Agnes
Bond Hill – 1619 California Avenue
Dedicated: 1956
Architect: Edward J. Schulte
Style: Romanesque Revival
Master Plan included current gymnasium, dedicated in 1930, that served as the church until 1955.


Our Lord Christ the King
Mt. Lookout – 3223 Linwood Avenue
Dedicated: 1957
Architect: Edward J. Schulte
Style: Art Moderne

St. Clare
College Hill – 1443 Cedar Avenue
Dedicated: 1957
Architect: Edward J. Schulte
Style: Modified Gothic Revival
Services were held in the undercroft church, completed in 193o, until current church completed.


St. Anthony of Padua Maronite Church
Walnut Hills – 2530 Victory Parkway
Dedicated: 1959
Architect: Gartner, Burdick, Bauer-Nilsen
Style: Modern Church was built as a Jewish Synagogue in 1915, then used by the Church of Latter Day Saints from 1941 until the building was purchased by the Archdiocese in the 1950’s and ultimately renovated by the firm listed and rededicated.


St. Teresa of Avila
West Price Hill – 1175 Overlook Avenue
Dedicated: 1922, Old Church; 1962, New Church
Architect: Anthony Kunz Jr., Old Church; Gartner, Burdick, Bauer-Nilsen, Current Church
Style: Spanish Revival; Italian Romanesque Revival

St. Robert Bellarmine
North Avondale – 3800 Victory Parkway
Dedicated: 1962
Architect: Albert V. Walters
Style: Modern

Mother of Christ
Winton Hills – 5301 Winneste Avenue
Dedicated: 1965
Architect: Eugene Schrand
Style: Modern

St. Joseph of Nazareth
West End – 745 Ezzard Charles Drive
Dedicated: 1965
Architect: Gartner, Burdick, Bauer-Nilsen
Style: Modern

Our Lady of Lourdes
Westwood – 2832 Rosebud Drive
Dedicated: 1959, Old Church; 1967, New Church (1982, Addition and Renovation)
Architect: Maguolo & Quick, Old Church; L. P. Cotter and Associates, Current Church; Gallagher, Craig & Associates, Addition
Style: Modern Master Plan included current school dedicated in 1949, a basement church that was completed in 1953 and then the old church that was dedicated in 1959, all by Maguolo & Quick. In 1967 another basement church was dedicated and it underwent renovations and an addition in the 1980’s. Current church located behind original complex not shown


Our Mother of Sorrows
Roselawn – 7243 Eastlawn Drive
Dedicated: 1942, Old Church; 1967, Current Church
Architect: Unknown
Style: Tudor Gothic
An Archbishop McNicholas Mission Church The current church was dedicated in 1967 but it was a renovation of the former school cafeteria that was originally constructed in 1950.


Church of the Nativity of Our Lord
Pleasant Ridge – 5935 Pandora Avenue
Dedicated: 1968
Architect: Edward J. Schulte
Style: Modern

Guardian Angels
Mt. Washington – 6531 Beechmont Avenue
Completed: 1971
Architect: Edward J. Schulte
Style: Modern Master Plan included current school completed in 1931 and gymnasium, dedicated in 1949, that served as temporary church until 1965 when services were held in the undercroft and eventually the new church.


References and the map Historic Catholic Churches of Cincinnati of every church mentioned in this series will be included in Part IX.

Next Sunday, May 24
Part VII: Beyond Cincinnati, Before 1940

Last Week: Part V