View source for Annunciation Church (historic) (Cleveland, Ohio)

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox church
|name                   =Annunciation Church (historic)
|fullname               =Church of St. Mary of the Annunciation
|image                  =Architectural illustration of Annunciation Church (historic).jpg
|imagesize              =
|imagelink              =
|imagealt               =
|caption                =
|pushpin map            =Ohio
|map caption            =
|coordinates            ={{coord|41.486|-81.701|region:US-OH_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|location               =[[Cleveland]], Ohio
|country                =[[United States]]
|denomination           =[[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic Church]]
|bull date              =
|founded date           =1870<!-- {{start date|1870||}}{{refn|group=note|name=founding|}} -->
|founder                =
|dedication             =[[Mary (mother of Jesus)|St. Mary]] of the [[Annunciation]]
|dedicated date         =25 September 1898
|consecrated date       =<!-- {{date|YYYY-MM-DD|}} -->
|relics                 =
|events                 =
|people                 =
|status                 =[[Parish church]]
|functional status      =Demolished
|architect              =
|architectural type     =[[Church (building)|Church]]
|style                  =French [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]]
|groundbreaking         =12 July 1896
|completed date         =<!-- {{date|YYYY-MM-DD}} -->
|construction cost      =
|closed date            =<!-- {{date|YYYY-MM-DD}} -->
|demolished date        =<!-- {{date|YYYY-MM-DD}} -->
|capacity               =
|length                 =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|width                  =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|width nave             =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|height                 =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|diameter               =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|other dimensions       =
|floor count            =
|floor area             =<!-- {{convert||sqft|m2|abbr=on}} -->
|dome quantity          =
|dome height outer      =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|dome height inner      =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|dome dia outer         =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|dome dia inner         =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|spire quantity         =
|spire height           =<!-- {{convert||ft|m|abbr=on}} -->
|materials              =
|bells                  =
|bells hung             =
|bell weight            =<!-- {{CwtQtrLb to kg|}} -->
|deanery               =
|diocese               =[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland|Cleveland]]
|province              =[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati|Cincinnati]]
|logo                  =
|logosize              =
|logolink              =
|logoalt               =
}}
'''Annunciation Church (historic)''' ({{langx|fr|Église de l'Annonciation de Cleveland}}), was a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[Parish (Catholic Church)|parish]] [[Church (building)|church]] in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]] and part of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland|Diocese of Cleveland]]. It was located at the intersection of Hurd St. and Moore St., now part of the [[West Side Market]] parking lot, in the [[Ohio City, Cleveland|Ohio City]] neighborhood. The location where the church once stood can be found, in an 1881 [[atlas]], at the south-west corner of Hurd St. and Moore St., on the west bank of the [[Cuyahoga river]] above part of [[the Flats]] historically known as Ox Bow Bend.<ref name="Hopkins-1881-13">{{cite book|location=Philadelphia, PA|publisher=G.M. Hopkins|year=1881|last=Hopkins|first=Griffith Morgan Jr.|title=City atlas of Cleveland, Ohio. From official records, private plans and actual surveys|lccn=unk81042279|oclc=35213084|chapter=Plate 13 |chapter-url=http://cplorg.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p4014coll24/id/15 |pages=62–63 |access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref> It was located about {{convert|1560|ft|m|abbr=on}} walking distance from [[St. Mary's on the Flats]], the first Catholic church in Cleveland and about {{convert|150|ft|m|abbr=on}} distance from the present St. Emeric Church.
==History==
===Founding===
The parish was founded 1870<ref name="Houck1903">{{Source-attribution|{{cite book|last=Houck|first=George Francis|title=A history of Catholicity in northern Ohio and the diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900|volume=v.1 (Historical)|year=1903|location=Cleveland, OH|publisher=Press of J.B. Savage|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofcatholi01houc|access-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.org/download/historyofcatholi01houc/historyofcatholi01houc.pdf|archive-date=1 July 2008|lccn=03014163|oclc=1260400}}}}</ref>{{rp|205}} &mdash; about 23 years after the Diocese of Cleveland was erected by [[Pope Pius IX]].<ref name="CathEncy-Cleveland">{{CathEncy|last=Houck|first=George|wstitle=Cleveland}}</ref>
===19th century===
[[George Francis Houck]], [[Chancellor (ecclesiastical)|Chancellor]] of the Diocese of Cleveland, wrote that, the Catholic [[French people|French]] population, unlike the Catholics of other nationalities in Cleveland, was neither large enough nor closely grouped, to form an exclusively [[French language]] parish, but lived scattered throughout the city and attended a church nearest to them. But, they were deprived of the advantages of sermons and instructions in French. Bishop [[Louis Amadeus Rappe]], full of zeal for the spiritual welfare of all his flock, resolved to organize a French [[national parish]] and bring them together as best he could. A lot was purchased at the corner of Hurd St. and Moore St., on 7 August 1868. It was paid for, about 1870, through the efforts of the Rev. Augustine Grandmougin, pastor of [[St. Augustine Church (Cleveland, Ohio)|St. Augustine Church]], Cleveland. Two years after the purchase of the lot Father Andrew Sauvadet was appointed pastor of all the French people of Cleveland, and under his direction a plain but commodious frame church was built, which was opened for divine service for the first time on the third Sunday of October, 1870, and placed under the patronage of St. [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] of the [[Annunciation]]. The upper portion of the building was used as a church, and the lower story was divided into a two classroom [[parochial school]].<ref name="Houck1903" />{{rp|205}}
As the number of French people identifying themselves with Annunciation Church was not, and never was, sufficient to meet the expenses connected with the support of the church and the school, a portion of St. Patrick's congregation was added, thus making Annunciation Church about two-thirds [[English language]] and one-third French language.<ref name="Houck1903" />{{rp|205–206}}
From the beginning, Annunciation Church had been burdened with a heavy debt, incurred in building the church, and for the purchase of several additional lots and residences for the pastor, and for the [[Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary]], who have had charge of the [[parochial school]] since it was opened, in 1872.<ref name="Houck1903" />{{rp|206}}
Father Augustine Gerardin, received his appointment in April, 1878. He set to work at once to pay off the debt, at that time about $10,000. This was by no means an easy task, as with the financial depression, then still existing, and the poverty of many of his people, he had hard work to meet even the current expenses of the parish. However, the debt was gradually diminished, and fully paid in 1888. By this time the need of a more substantial church, to replace the frame edifice, became almost imperative. Gerardin succeeded in putting aside from the annual parish income a fair sum to serve as the nucleus for a building fund. As the site for the proposed new church had to be located next to the old edifice, and on the lot covered by the pastoral residence, Gerardin purchased, on 19 March 1892, a lot in the rear of the frame church, fronting on Moore street. The brick house on the lot he had fitted up as a pastoral residence, his former residence having been given in exchange for the excavation made for the new church. In May, 1896, with $11,000 in the parish treasury, work was begun on the new brick church.  In order not to overtax his people, and to reduce the debt already incurred, Gerardin postponed the completion of the church until 1898. At an expense of nearly $11,000 he then had the entire church finished, including frescoing, pews, three beautiful altars, stained glass windows, making it one of the neatest and most attractive churches in the diocese. On Sunday, 25 September 1898, it was solemnly dedicated by Bishop [[Ignatius Frederick Horstmann]]. It was a day of great joy for the pastor, and for his people, whose generosity made it possible to build the beautiful church. The debt ($8,000) as compared with the property owned by the congregation, is insignificant, and will be cancelled in a very few years. In fact, most of the debt would have been paid by the end of the year 1900, had not the pastor been obliged to relinquish all duty for nearly one year, owing to serious illness. During Gerardin's absence in Europe, for the benefit of his impaired health, the Rev. L. J. Wickart, of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit]], had charge of the parish, from September, 1899, till 1 May 1900.<ref name="Houck1903" />{{rp|206–207}}
==Architecture==
===First church===
A plain but commodious frame church was built. The upper portion of the building was used as a church, and the lower story was divided into a two classroom [[parochial school]].<ref name="Houck1903" />{{rp|205}}
===Second church===
The cornerstone was laid by Horstmann on 12 July 1896. The church, which is of French Gothic architecture, was brought under roof the same year.<ref name="Houck1903" />{{rp|206–207}}
On Sunday, 25 September 1898, it was solemnly dedicated by Bishop [[Ignatius Frederick Horstmann]].<ref name="Houck1903" />{{rp|206}}
==References==
{{Portal|Catholicism}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Former Roman Catholic church buildings in Ohio]]
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United States]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Cleveland]]
[[Category:French-American history]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1898]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1870]]
[[Category:Churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland]]
[[Category:French-American culture in Ohio]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Ohio]]