# Saint Patrick Church (Columbus, Ohio)

Saint Patrick Church is a historic building and the second-oldest Catholic church building in Columbus, Ohio. Located in the Discovery District neighborhood, the structure served as the pro-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus until the consecration of Saint Joseph Cathedral. It has been served by priests of the Dominican Order since 1885 and is currently home to an active parish.

## History

When Irish Catholic immigrants arrived in Columbus in 1848 to escape the Great Famine, the only Catholic church in the city was Holy Cross Church, a predominantly German Catholic parish. The German and Irish worshipers shared Holy Cross until 1850, when the parish voted to split. Archbishop Purcell of Cincinnati approved the new parish February 1851 and appointed Reverend John Furlong as its pastor. The lot on which the church stands was purchased from Robert E. Neill for $1000.
The new parish was named for Ireland's patron saint, Saint Patrick. The site chosen was on the west side of town at the corner of Grant and Naghten Streets (then known as the "Irish Broadway"). English-speaking worshipers continued attending Holy Cross during construction, with $1,200 toward the building fund donated by Holy Cross parishioners. it was the first Catholic church in Columbus to have a bell, which was acquired in around 1865.

### Aquinas High School

in 1905, bishop James Hartley requested that the Dominican Fathers open a high school. Initially called St. Patrick High School and housed in the parochial school building at the corner of Grant and Mt. Vernon, it was renamed Aquinas High School and relocated to a dedicated building in 1912. It was the largest high school in the Diocese into the mid-20th century, until the need for new facilities and lack of personnel due to the Vatican asking for more of the Dominican Fathers to enter missionary work resulted in the announcing of the closure of the school in 1962. The final class graduated in 1965 and the school building was sold to the Columbus Board of Education. It is currently used by Columbus State Community College.

## Notable clergy

    Notable ClergymanOffice / Appointment Sylvester Horton RosecransBishop of Columbus (1868–1878) Edward FitzgeraldBishop of Little Rock (1822–1832) Nicolaus Aloysius GallagherBishop of Galveston (1882–1918) Michael DoschMissionary of Mercy (2015–2016) Cassian DerbesMissionary of Mercy (2015–2016) Thomas BlauMissionary of Mercy (2015–2016) Boniface EndorfMissionary of Mercy (2015–2016)

## Interior
### Stained glass windows

    Subjects of stained glass windows as arranged from east to west North SideSouth Side Apse Saint Dominic receiving the Rosary from the Virgin MarySaint Patrick explaining the Trinity Nave The Last SupperThe Presentation of Jesus at the Temple The AnnunciationThe Resurrection of Jesus Sacred Heart of Jesus appearing to St. Margaret MaryDeath of Saint Joseph The Marriage at CanaThe Anointing of Jesus Saint Patrick's baptism of the High King of IrelandJesus on a crucifix speaking to Saint Thomas Aquinas non-pictorial window over a doorSaints Vincent de Paul and Anthony of Padua

### Paintings

There is a fresco of a medallion depicting a Dominican saint over each stained glass window in the nave.
    Subjects of the medallion frescos as arranged from east to west North SideSouth Side Saint Thomas AquinasSaint Dominic Saint Catherine of SienaSaint Rose of Lima Saint AntoninusPope Saint Pius V Saint AgnesSaint Catherine de Ricci Saint Vincent FerrerSaint Hyacinth Blessed Pier Giorgio FrassatiSaint Gianna Beretta Molla