St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception
Also known as: Fulda Church
Why it's listed
Perched on a hilltop above the village of Fulda in Noble County, Ohio, St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception is a brick Romanesque Revival church built in 1874. It measures 60 by 120 feet and has a three-bay west facade with a slightly projecting central tower, round-arched openings, arcaded corbel tables along the sides and paired eave brackets. A steeple added in 1900 was later removed, leaving the exterior close to its original appearance. The basilican interior was plain at first but was enriched over time: altars were installed in 1886 and 1889, and a major 1900 redecoration added a vaulted ceiling, clustered columns and imported stained glass under Akron architect William P. Ginter. A further redecoration followed in 1944, using light blue, old rose and gold. The parish was founded in 1847 by German Catholic settlers, and the church replaced an 1853 building. It was listed for its architecture and for one of the finest rural church interiors in Ohio.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is the finest architectural example in Fulda and typifies late 19th-century Romanesque Revival parish churches. Its interior, with a high altar, vaulted ceiling and polychrome decoration, is described as among the finest rural church interiors in southeastern Ohio and the state. It also remains the main social force in a German Catholic community.
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 80003202, listed July 21, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off OH 564, Fulda |
|---|---|
| County | Noble County |
| Listed | July 21, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003202 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1874) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in excellent condition, in religious use; the steeple added in 1900 was removed after 1948. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.72428, -81.41499 (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 80003202.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7590226
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.