Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati

Christ Church Cathedral, located on East Fourth Street in Cincinnati, serves as the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio. Founded in 1817 by missionary Rev. Philander Chase-who later became a Bishop and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church-the parish began with the support of notable Cincinnati pioneers, including Dr. Daniel Drake and William Henry Harrison, the future ninth president of the United States.

The church was officially incorporated in the state of Ohio in 1820, with its original building standing on East Sixth Street. In 1835, the congregation moved to its current site, constructing a red-brick church inspired by Saint Dunstan's in Stepney, London. Though this building was later deemed structurally unsound and replaced in 1957, its legacy lives on in features such as the preserved stained-glass windows.

The current church structure, designed by architect David Briggs Maxfield, contrasts sharply with the older buildings in the cathedral complex. It showcases a bold modern style and underwent significant renovations in the 1980s and 1990s. Around it, the cathedral complex grew to include the Gothic Revival-style Parish House (built in 1907), which houses offices, meeting spaces, a gymnasium, and a library. The Centennial Chapel, built in 1917 to mark the church’s 100th anniversary, offers a quiet space for prayer and small services and was likely designed by architect Frederick W. Garber’s firm.

In 1993, Christ Church was consecrated as the cathedral for the Diocese of Southern Ohio, taking over the role of the former Saint Paul Episcopal Cathedral. A year later, a major renovation and expansion project began, culminating in the cathedral's rededication in 1998. The cathedral continues to maintain its tradition of community engagement and service, which now spans more than 200 years.