St. Francis De Sales Church Historic District
Why it's listed
St. Francis de Sales Church Historic District in Cincinnati's Woodburn neighborhood is a complex of three buildings: a large Gothic-revival church, a rectory and sacristy, and a school. The school was built first, from May to December 1877, and the church followed, with its cornerstone laid in 1878 and dedication in December 1879. Francis G. Himpler of New York designed the church, which is built of rock-faced gray hill stone with Ohio free stone trim. Its west tower reaches 230 feet and was completed in 1896. The tower holds a 17½-ton bell described as the largest free-swinging bell in the world. Inside are quadripartite vaulting, stained glass windows and a Vermont marble main altar. The parish was one of the earliest Catholic congregations in Cincinnati and the first church in the area, founded by German families. The church remains an active parish with a working school, and serves as a landmark for the neighborhood and the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the district for its architecture and its place in religion. St. Francis de Sales was among the earliest Catholic parishes in Cincinnati and the first church in East Walnut Hills (Woodburn). The large church, designed by architect Francis G. Himpler, is a visual landmark. Its tower holds what is described as the largest free-swinging bell in the world.
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 74001512, listed March 1, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Woodburn Ave. and Madison Rd., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 1, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001512 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1877-1879 |
| Architect / builder | Francis G. Himpler of New York (church architect) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and unaltered, on its original site. St. Francis de Sales is an active parish and the school is still functioning. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Within district | Madison and Woodburn Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.13008, -84.47649 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 74001512.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q7587950
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.