Old St. Mary's Church, School and Rectory
Why it's listed
Old St. Mary's is a Catholic church complex at 123 East 13th Street in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, made up of a church begun in 1841, a school opened in 1844 and a parish house built in 1864. Its brick exterior is simple, combining Greek Revival and simplified German Baroque elements, with Doric pilasters and a square clock tower topped by an octagonal stage, spire and cross. The interior is far more elaborate, with floral decoration, paintings, carved altars and an 1846 organ still in use. German immigrant Franz Ignatz Erd designed the church, and parishioners did much of the work themselves. It is described as the oldest church still standing in Cincinnati and was the largest church built on the western frontier up to that time. The parish served the German community by providing worship, schooling and orientation to American life, and it later assisted newcomers from Appalachia and the southern states.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is the oldest church still standing in Cincinnati and is important to the city's German immigrant community. The parish provided religious services, education and help to newcomers, and continues to assist later immigrants. The church's exceptional architecture and elaborate interior are also cited.
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 76001439, listed March 13, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 123 E. 13th St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 13, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001439 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Franz Ignatz Erd |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival and simplified German Baroque elements in brick |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, in religious use and privately owned by the archdiocese; a frame structure beside the parish house was slated for removal for a church office building. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.10968, -84.51202 (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 76001439.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085044
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.