Old St. Mary's Church, Cincinnati

Located in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, Old Saint Mary’s Church is not only the oldest continually-used house of worship in the city-it’s also a living monument to the German immigrant community that helped shape the area. Built between 1841 and 1842 by German Catholics-many of whom made the bricks by hand (and some reportedly even baked them in kitchen ovens)-this church stands as a proud symbol of faith, resilience, and architectural grace.

Designed by Franz Ignatz Erd in the Greek Revival style, the church was the largest in the Ohio Valley when it was completed, stretching 142 feet long with a 170-foot steeple that continues to tower over the cityscape. Dedicated on July 3, 1842, it features Cincinnati’s oldest clock tower, a bell that once doubled as a neighborhood fire alarm, and vibrant stained-glass windows that bathe the interior in color.

Saint Mary’s grew from Cincinnati’s first German parish, Holy Trinity, and quickly became a spiritual hub for the city’s growing immigrant population in the 1840s. A parish school opened in 1844, supported by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Marianist brothers. The church endured major events like the 1849 cholera epidemic, was expanded in 1865, remodeled in 1890, and officially became Old Saint Mary’s in 1904.

In 1976, the church complex earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places, later becoming part of the broader Over-the-Rhine Historic District. Since 2017, it has served as the home of The Cincinnati Oratory, a community of priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri.

Today, Old Saint Mary’s continues to embrace its rich liturgical traditions, offering Mass in Latin, German, and English. A professional schola performs sacred music on Sundays and feast days, bringing centuries-old heritage to life in the heart of Cincinnati.