Maria Stein Catholic Church and Rectory
Also known as: Saint John Catholic Church and Rectory
Why it's listed
Maria Stein's parish complex in Mercer County, Ohio, centers on a brick Gothic church completed in 1889 and a brick rectory added in 1906, both designed by DeCurtins. The church has three doorways in its facade, elaborate sandstone trim, and a central tower with four spaces once meant for clocks. Inside, the altars are original, and the reredos show Romanesque round arches and gold leaf. Deep blue stained glass lights the sacristy. The two-story rectory has a slate hipped-gablet roof with decorative shingle bands, dormers on four sides, dentil trim at the cornice, and a one-story veranda with a fan-detailed entrance gable. The parish began in 1833 with three German immigrant settlers named John. They welcomed the Fathers of the Precious Blood in 1846, whose mission and convent gave the town its name. The parish also claims the first Mercer County-born priest, Father Joseph Devenger, who later became a bishop. The church and rectory remain in use.
Significance in brief: The church and rectory are part of a thematic group of Land/Cross-Tipped Churches. The parish dates to 1833 and grew from German immigrant settlers and the Fathers of the Precious Blood, whose mission gave the town its name. The buildings have notable architectural detail, and the parish is noted as the home of the first Mercer County-born priest, later a bishop.
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 79002828, listed July 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | St. John's Rd. and OH 119, Maria Stein |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | July 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002828 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | DeCurtins (architect) |
| Architectural style | Gothic (church); Transitional (rectory) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church and rectory are both in good exterior condition and remain in use as a church and a priest's house. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.40806, -84.47285 (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 79002828.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588951
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.