Mystery Church

Moving to sadder things at the end of Guadete Sunday, here is a church that represents the sens of pathos that is in an undercurrent on this blog. Traveling along Rt 50 on a rainy and cold Thanksgiving morning, I saw the remains of an old town or neighborhood, peaking out of the valley between two hills. Amongst the old buildings my attention became riveted by a large steeple.   The church, a tall building towered over the rest  of the valley as it rested partway up a hillside.   As I drew closer the extent of its dereliction became clearer, but I could find no trace of its name

http://picasaweb.google.com/DocMeadows85/UnknownChurch#


Once again however the  Catholic Telegraph agency comes through ( near the bottom).
http://tctphotos.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html

The Church is the old Our Lady of Perpetual Help (I am rather fond of that image) it sits in the old Sedamsville neighborhood of Cincy.

From there I found more, but disturbing information
http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17276.0.html

Apparently the stain glass windows are still in the building, with some pieces of them lying on the floor.

"Ha'nacker Hill is in desolation, ruin atop and a field unplowed,
spirits that call on a fallen nation , spirits that loved her calling aloud"
"the sweep have fallen from the Ha'nacker Mill"

St Rosa Kirche

 As far as I know, this church is still loved and attended.  I first encountered it after being lost in Cincinnati around midnight for several hours after having lost track of US 52 coming into town. Upon finding it and heading out of town I was struck by a spire and clock rising up out of the darkness.  I felt greatly comforted by its sight, it was like a huge guardian or sentinel pointing the way.  I went back to investigate it later..... not till the third visit did I actually arrive when it was open, (on a 1st Saturday in time for Mass.... the old priest then sat after Mass for a good 30 minutes hearing confessions). I now see it as a last vestige of some of the great German Churches that used to dot Cincinnati's skyline (a  few others remain, but the likes of St Philomena and St Mark's I believe are gone).

Not being a native Cincinnatian, I have to rely on outside source for info about it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Rose_Church_%28Cincinnati,_Ohio%29

I wish I could convey to you how I first saw it, but I have no picture....... and I am not sure one could really do it justice.  That being said, here are some pictures  of the exterior and interior

http://picasaweb.google.com/DocMeadows85/ForFB#

 The windows are simple for such a large church, but good, a reflection perhaps of a less affluent parish by comparison to other older Cincinnati churches. The interior is decidedly superior to most modern churches.  I saw it after having visited the cathedral in Covington and the Mutter Gottes Kirche, so it seemed much more humble.  Having seen it both towering and humble I am fond of this church either way and I am happy every time I see it passing along 52, and I think of it every time I see the Ohio River Bi-way signs which depict a church steeple overlooking the river.