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St. Mary
Catholic Community |
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In 1873 there was group of ten men assigned to the building committee to erect a new church for the Irish speaking Catholics. In April of 1873 the present lot (228’ x 356’) was purchase for $3800. Permission was granted by Bishop Richard Gilmore of the Cleveland Diocese to construct a new church, there was no Toledo Diocese. At this time there was no pastor assigned to the newly formed parish. The corner stone of the church was in place by May of 1875. By the summers end of 1875 the framed walls of the church were nearly completed and the roof was ready to be put on. Rev. Peter Patrick Mazuret from the Cleveland area was assigned as the first pastor in March of 1875. A beam located in the attic of the church has Rev. Mazuret name hand painted on it. The first divine worship toke place January 1st 1876. Official dedication ceremony was held November 10th 1878 with a new pastor, Rev. Michael P. Kinkead, Bishop Gilmore visited Defiance for the occasion. The total cost for the church and the lot was $35,000. After four years of work the church was finally finished in November of 1897. At this time a new steam heat system was installed, a pipe organ was ready for services, frescoes adorned the walls and three Gothic alters graced the sanctuary. The steeple at one time stood as the tallest building in Defiance. It stood an impressive 162’ tall and was erected in 1892 costing $3000. The bell was also installed at this time weighing in at one ton, with all the mounting hardware the total weight of the bell system is 3100 pounds. To ring the bell two ropes were used. By 1950 the ropes were replaced with a motorized system which is still in use today. In 1920 a tornado came through the area and damaged the steeple so bad that the front entrance was closed due to falling slate shingle. Shortly after the storm the steeple was reduce to the present height we see today. The present stain glass windows are not original to the church. When the church was constructed the stain glass was mainly yellow panes with a few red ones in a geometric pattern. On the northeast corner of the church is the first of the new windows that was installed shortly after World War 1. This window came from Munich Germany. Because of the threat of World War II the rest of the windows were not complete. The Guardian Company of Cincinnati was commissioned for the rest of the windows, styled after the window from Germany. During the late 1920’s and early 1930’s the windows were completed and installed. Note there difference in the windows, color and layout. The total cost for the windows was $5000. There are a few original windows; they are located above the balcony on the west end of the church. In June of 1963 Father John Flynn renovated the interior by removing all the frescoes, gothic alters, etcetera. During this renovation a fire broke out in the main entrance of the church. There was minimal fire damage to the foyer and back of church, and lots of smoke damage. Completion of the renovation was finished by 1964. The interior now looks as it did in 1964 less the communion rail.
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