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Historic Church Closes After 167 Years
22 Jan
Summary
- St. Francis Seraph Church in Cincinnati will close this summer.
- The church closure is due to declining Catholic populations and rising maintenance costs.
- The church building and property will be put up for sale by the Franciscans.
After 167 years of service, Cincinnati's historic St. Francis Seraph Church in Over-the-Rhine will close this summer. The Franciscan Friars announced the decision to sell the building and property, attributing it to a nationwide reorganization and the challenges of maintaining urban churches amidst demographic shifts. Two friars currently staffing the church will be reassigned to St. Bernard.
The closure reflects a broader trend affecting Catholic churches in Midwestern urban cores. Factors include declining Catholic populations as families move to suburbs and the significant expense of maintaining older church structures. While St. Francis Seraph's Sunday Mass attendance has recently risen to 190, it is a fraction of its past congregations.
Despite the church's closure, the adjacent St. Francis Seraph Ministries, which provides essential services, will remain operational. The Franciscan Friars also maintain a commitment to serving the Cincinnati area through other institutions like Roger Bacon High School and St. Clement Church.
