Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Plymouth, Ohio

History of St. Joseph Catholic Church

Roman Catholics were first served by a visiting priest from New Washington between 1864 and 1870. The Rev. Fr. Repert was the first priest. During this time there were only five Catholic families in the village of Plymouth. From 1870 to 1876, a priest came monthly from Monroeville and said Mass in the homes until the church was built. The ground for the Catholic Church on Trux Street was given by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mittenbuhler, originally from Buffalo, new York. In 1872, the Mittenbuhlers were the instigators of the building and the furnishing of the church.

St. Joseph Church was next attended by Shelby priests as a monthly mission from 1876 to 1898. After Shelby, the priests from Chicago Junction (Willard) came until 1931. Next the priests who were assigned to new London also had Plymouth. The following priests were: Fr. C.R. Atkins (1931), Fr. F.H. Cartain (1933), Fr. Francis L. Fate (1934-1941). From 1941-1951, under Sacred Heart Seminary, Shelby. In 1951, Fr. William Conces was appointed pastor of St. Joseph’s and the Chaplain at the Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield.

During Fr. Conces’ pastorate, the present Catholic Church was built with proceeds from sales tax stamps, a campaign initiated by Fr. Conces between 1952 and January 1, 1962, when sales tax stamps went out of existence. Appeals for donations of sales tax stamps issued with the purchase of new and used automobiles were sent to 50 Ohio counties. To the addresses, whose names he obtained from the recorders of those counties, he sent a medallion of St. Christopher, patron of travelers. The response was sufficient to justify mailings large enough to make of Plymouth post office a first class office, for a time. Although sales tax stamps from other purchases were collected, stamps issues for new and used car sales comprised by far the major part of the rebates.

The first Mass of the newly completed church was celebrated Christmas Eve, 1962 at midnight. For future parishioners, the history of the construction has been captured in the Altar cornerstone. This time capsule, which Fr. Conces had hoped would be opened on the Church’s centennial, contains all the information pertaining to the building of the church – copies of the first correspondence, pictures, the medallion, and a few of the vital sales tax stamps.

The church’s unusual architecture stands as a focal point in Plymouth. The Christian concept of the Trinity was the dominant factor in the design of St. Joseph Church. The triangular shape of the building symbolizes three persons in one – God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, serving as an integrating medium between art and religion. The main feature is the Altar covering one wall, and the stained glass windows comprise the remaining two walls. The north window portrays God the Creator, the first person of the Blessed Trinity. God the Creator is portrayed by a large hand stretching forth into space emanating rays of light and bringing into being the burst of creation. The sun and other plants are portrayed as evidence of His Creation. The south window portrays the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity. The Holy Spirit is portrayed by a large hovering dove emanating red rays of light symbolizing the inspiration given to the Church by the Holy Spirit.

St. Joseph’s parish presently has 103 parish households. Father Nicholas Cunningham is Pastor and Sister Yvonne Fischer, OSF is Pastoral Associate. The Parish will celebrate “50” years in the present church on October 7, 2012.