St. Mary's Church and Rectory
Why it's listed
St. Mary's Church and Rectory form the center of Catholic life in downtown Delaware, Ohio, at 82 E. William Street. Built between 1886 and 1888 from designs by Chicago architect A. Druiding, with Bourner and Phillips of Newark, Ohio, as contractors, the brick church sits on a raised limestone foundation and measures 140 by 66 feet. Its Gothic Revival design includes pointed arch entrances, trefoil and quatrefoil windows, buttressed side walls, stained glass, and two towers of 160 and 110 feet that serve as a landmark for the community. Carved and painted wood altars fill the interior, which was completed in 1906. Beside it stands a plain three-story brick rectory with a slate mansard roof. Irish Catholics who came to work on the railroad in the 1850s and German Catholics who settled in the 1870s built the complex. Both buildings remain in daily use by the parish and are well maintained.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the church is a well-preserved, intricately detailed example of Gothic Revival religious architecture whose tall spires are a community landmark. The buildings are also the visible symbols of Catholicism in Delaware. They were built by Irish and German Catholics who settled in the city while working on and around the railroad.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80002994, listed May 23, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 82 E. William St., Delaware |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | May 23, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002994 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-88 |
| Architect / builder | A. Druiding, Chicago - Architect; Bourner and Phillips, Newark, Ohio - Contractors |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well preserved and maintained, and in constant use by the parish; the church is virtually unaltered, with roof replacement underway. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.29851, -83.06598 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80002994.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7590108
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.