St. Mary Catholic Church (Antwerp, Ohio) records

Collection

Identifier: MS-0898

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The collection consists of baptisms, first communions, confirmations, Book of the Elect, marriages, interments and deaths. There are also records for Missions and Stations served by St. Mary found in the record book dated 1868 - 1890. They are as follows: Delaware Bend: 1870 - 1884; Junction: 1869 - 1883; Cecil: 1874 - 1884; Mud Creek: 1869 - 1874; Hicksville: 1880 - 1884; Payne: 1883 - 1888; Flat Rock: 1868 - 1882; North Ridge: 1868 - 1874; Furnace: 1868 - 1880; Blue Creek: 1868; and Emerald: 1868 - 1880.

Dates

Creation: 1868 - 2001

Extent

2 Reels

Creator

Saint Mary Catholic Church (Antwerp, Ohio) (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

For the first Catholic settlers of Antwerp, the closest Catholic Church was in Defiance, which was twenty-one miles away. By 1857, Antwerp became a Station of Defiance, but was served by the priests irregularly. Their mass was said in private homes until 1869, when the parish built a small frame church. The status of the Antwerp parish changed from a Station to a Mission. The parish was served by Defiance until 1873.

In 1873, Antwerp received their first resident pastor, Reverend John Michenfelder. Beginning in this same year, Antwerp began to serve a number of Missions including Hicksville, Delaware Bend, Cecil, Junction, and Payne.

In 1900, it was decided by the congregation that a larger church was needed. The church was completed in 1901.

The number of members dropped severely during the Depression Era, but the church began to gain new members in the 1950's and their numbers grew significantly.

Mossing, Lawrence A. S.T.D. History of the Diocese of Toledo. Northern Ohio - West Section Missionary and Parish History. Diocese of Toledo. Toledo, Ohio. 1985. Pages 123 - 127.

Conditions Governing Access

There is a seventy (70) year access restriction on baptism and marriage records. No restrictions apply to the remainder of this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Due to inconsistencies in pagination and transcription of data, researchers are encouraged to refer to all volumes within each series.

Related Materials

The CAC also holds separate collections of later records for several of those Missions and Stations served by St. Mary, including Delaware Bend (available in MS-0912), Junction (available in MS-0876), Cecil (available in MS-0285), Hicksville (available in MS-0880), and Payne (available in MS-0888).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records of St. Mary Catholic Church, 1868 - 2001, were transferred for microfilming to the Center for Archival Collections, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, in September 2001, with the cooperation of Father Herman F. Scherger of St. Mary Catholic Church.