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   St. John the Baptist RC Ch

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Historic Name

St. John the Baptist RC Ch

Address

504 E 27th Street

Municipality

City of Erie

Tax Parcel

18050068021300

Historic District

 

Classification

Class 2 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

803468

Historic Function

Religion - religious structure

Style

Gothic Revival Towers

Built

1889

Architect

 

Builder

 

Barn Type on property

 

Last Entry Update

7/14/2016


HISTORY

St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church was established in 1869, just after the American Civil War. Erie Catholics who lived in Marvintown, a section of Southeast Erie comprised of German immigrants, had been worshipping at St. Mary’s Church on East Ninth Street, where they were well served by the German Benedictine Fathers. St. John’s Church initially was a local mission of the fathers from St. Mary’s, becoming a parish in late 1869. The first pastor of this church was Reverend Bernard Manser (also known as Father Bernard). Rt. Reverend Bishop Michael O’Connor of Pittsburgh ordained him to the priesthood on June 29, 1858. Father Bernard became the first pastor of St. John’s Church in 1869, serving the parish until 1881. Father Bernard’s leadership and the parishioners’ willingness to support their priest led to the establishment of an independent parish from St. Mary’s. The original church was a small frame structure, which was dedicated by the Right Reverend Bishop Mullen on August 28, 1870.

Soon the parish established a school for their growing community. Schoolmasters instructed the parish children and served as organists in the village church. They instilled a love of learning for the arts and sciences, as well as language and history. The Sisters of St. John’s eventually replaced the male schoolmasters. Sister Coletta Knapp was the first Sister who taught at St. John’s parochial school, beginning her first term in September 1883. A new school was built in 1887, a two-story brick building at Wallace and East 27th Streets, which in 1905 was renovated to accommodate ten more classrooms. The new building increased the teachers’ ambitions, renewed students’ interest, and added other Sisters to the teaching staff.

Two years after the completion of the new school building, Father Decker commissioned the construction of a larger church. The small frame church was moved to East 22nd Street, becoming Holy Trinity Church, which was to serve the growing Polish immigrant community. To replace the original structure, a massive Romanesque style church was completed in 1889 and dedicated the following year. In 2016, the church continues to thrive, although St. John’s grade school was closed in 2012.

Sources:


DESCRIPTION


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UPDATE

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CURRENT ASSESSMENT PHOTO


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PHOTO FROM 2014 SURVEY

HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

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