St. Michaels Catholic Church at Berlin
On Sunday, October 2, 1881, the new St. Michael’s Church of Berlin was solemnly consecrated by the Right Reverend Coadjutor Bishop W. H. Elders, of Cincinnati, Ohio. This fact is very significant when it is remembered there are only three or four consecrated edifices in the whole archdiocese, for the most worthily built churches are usually only dedicated or sanctified. To be consecrated, it is necessary: 1st. That there be a well-defined congregation, not only able to build, but also to support the edifice, and this also includes the idea of regular clergy at all times and under all circumstances. 2d. That the high altar be at the same time consecrated, and that the church be well and substantially built. 3d. That the building must be under a distinct roof, constructed of substantial materials, and be free from debt.
These qualities all belong to this church, as beauty of design, strength of structure, and richness of ornament all unite to make an impression of admiration. The congregation of over two hundred families consist largely of farmers, whose means are largely at the disposal of the church, thus guaranteeing the maintenance of the beautiful structure to which they have so generously contributed. The building is 150 by 65 feet, is clear of debt, and represents a cost of over $40,000. The congregation lies in the northwest part of Shelby County, and is bordered on the north by the Minster congregation; on the west by the St. Joseph’s, Egypt, and Woodland; on the south by Newport and Russia; and on the east by St. Patrick’s and Sidney. The parish is long but narrow, being about fifteen miles from east to west, while it is scarcely three miles from north to south. About eighty families live in the village of Berlin, seventy east of the village, and fifty-five on the western side of the parish.
Berlin appears to have been constituted a parish in 1838, for at that date an old book contains the minute: “This congregation took its beginning in the year of salvation one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, on the fourth of June.” At that date forty families registered here at one time. Some German families were already here for several years, but the chief growth was experienced during the construction of the canal, when many families came here from Cincinnati and other cities. About this time a log church was erected, and occasionally a priest came from Minster, read mass, baptized children, solemnized marriages, and interred the dead. The priest of the society of “The Precious Blood” labored at Minster, and to that place the Catholics of this community frequently went to attend regular services. Under these circumstances they were not discouraged, but proved their tenacity to the mother church by their ardent adherence thereto. It was a period of rudeness, but earnestness was not wanting, and in the midst of all happiness sat in smiles. Their dwellings were log huts, but they hid few skeletons away; their church was a log building, but hypocritical fashion was a stranger within its walls. How the old folks love to converse of those early “better” days. Here one tells of his pride in a new two-story log house in which he slept one night, to awake in the morning and find the building sadly out of the perpendicular, through the influence of one night’s stifl' breeze. They all have their story to tell, those old settlers, and while one tells of his building, another speaks of clearing, and still another of his exploits with the gun. Then the grandmothers tell of their struggles to protect their poultry and vegetables, as well as of the dangers against which the children had to be guarded. Markets were distant, but as wants were few the people still enjoyed life, and the productions of the land satisfied most every need.
Thus matters largely stood until 1840, when the parish embraced over one hundred families. Along the years they ran, until the log hut of the farmer was giving place to brick dwellings, and so, in 1849, a brick church, sixty by thirty feet, was constructed, and hung with a seven hundred-pound bell. But this season, 1849-50, proved trying to the new community, for it was the season of the cholera in its most dreaded type. Twenty-eight persons fell its victims in the space of two months, while some two hundred died from the same disease in the larger and neighboring community of Minster. But the plague ran its course, and again the people resumed neglected undertakings.
The church was dedicated, and the services of Rev. Augustus Berger, of the Grand Duchy of Baden, were secured by the congregation. Under his care the new priest’s house was built. He was succeeded in 1857 by Rev. Henry Muckerheide, of Oldenberg, who labored here until 1863 with great zeal and ability. He was succeeded by Rev. M. Anton Meyer, of Canton Basel, Switzerland, who, with characteristic energy, had an addition of twenty feet added to the church,and in a few years later carried the construction of a school-house to completion. On account of failing health he retired in 1873, after ten years of active labor in this field. In 1873 the institution of the “Fathers of the Holy Spirit” was abrogated in Germany, and Archbishop Purcell wrote to the Reverend General-chief of the society to procure some priests for this country. Accordingly, on January 1, 1874, four priests and twelve lay-brothers of the society left Paris with the intention of coming to the United States. Among these priests was the present pastor of Berlin, Rev. William Bigot. He was born in Upper Elsase (Alsace) diocese of Strasburg, and was ordained a. priest May 22,1864, in the seminary chapel of the Mother-house-of-the-Holy-Ghost. Soon after ordination he was sent to Kaiserwerth, near Dusseldorf, as superior, to take the superintendency of the Archbishopric Hermit-house, and perform the services of the church connected with the cloister. From 1864 to 1870 he was allowed to serve near the grave of Suitbertus, the apostle of the Saxons and Frieses. Then came the Franco-Prussian war, and the Right Rev. Bishop Hefele, of Rottenburg, demanded priests to minister in French and German to the wounded and the prisoners. The lot fell upon Father Bigot to leave the cloister at Marienthal, near Au, at the Sieg, Rhenish Prussia, to assume the pastorate over 12,000 captured and wounded soldiers at Stuttgart, Ludwigsberg, Asperg, and Grund, in Wurtemberg. The royal government aided him in every possible way, so that he found his eleven months’ sojourn among the soldiers rather pleasurable, although attended by arduous labors and many privations and exposures. After this service he was entrusted with the conduct of the cloister of Marienthal, archdiocese of Cologne. Under the French Government he was authorized: 1st, to collect certificates of death of such French soldiers as died in captivity, in response to which he filled and forwarded to the ministry a volume of 18,400 such certificates; 2d, to erect suitable monuments in all graveyards of French captives, and to cause anniversaries to be founded at the chief stations. This request of the Government was accompanied by a bill of exchange for eighty thousand francs. With this, in one hundred and sixty German burying-grounds, monuments and tombstones were erected, and about twenty anniversaries established. For these services the French Government conferred upon Father Bigot the Cross of Chivalry, of the Legion of Honor, and the Cross of Merit; also the sum of one thousand francs and a recommendation to take a journey of recreation after the arduous labors were performed.
Soon afterward he left Europe and reached Berlin, January 20, 1874. On his first visit to Cincinnati, the Most Rev. Archbishop Purcell said to him: "In Berlin you will find enough work to do; a large parish, and there you must build a church." In the mean time old debts amounting to $700 had to be paid, the priest’s house to be repaired, and the holy vessels to be renewed. All this was readily done, but the congregation did not yet feel disposed to undertake the construction of a new church. Three bells were first procured at a cost of about $1000, and weighed respectively 1600, 1200, and 700 pounds. Still, as the congregation did not think these bells loud enough, the priest invested his year’s salary in a 3800 pound bell. But a new tower was needed for this bell, and a new church for the tower. The year 1879 was prosperous, and the plan of building met with great favor. it was resolved to build, and further, that over and above the manual labor which the members could perform, the building should not cost more than $30,000. This sum was further to be raised by two collections, in 1879 and 1881. The collection through out the parish lasted about nine days, and resulted in obtaining $16,000. This, added to the $4000 fund of the church, gave a starting point with $20,000. The collection for the year 1881 brought $8,000, which, added to a pew-rent surplus fund of $2000, raised the aggregate to $30,000, before the completion of the church. Aside from this, individual gifts were received, such as a stained glass window, or a figure. One family contributed $800 for the Saint Mary’s Altar, while many others gave in a quiet manner something above the regular subscription. Messrs.Cudell & Richardson, architects, of Cleveland, were secured to furnish plans, and the edifice as it stands is their only necessary recommendation. Henry Quartman, of Berlin, assumed the task of burning one million bricks, to be delivered at the building site at $4 per thousand. A basement ten feet high, 150 feet long, and 65 feet wide was first constructed. Messrs. Sutherland & Co., of Sidney, used 900 perches of stone in the foundation walls. By the 12th of October, 1879, the foundation was completed, and on that date the Most Reverend Archbishop laid the cornerstone with imposing ceremonies. For the year 1880 Mr. John Deman, of Defiance, Ohio, assumed the entire brickwork; Messrs. John Bier & Co., of Cleveland, did 6000 feet of stonework; Mr. Anton Goehr, of Minster, constructed the roof framework; Messrs. Auld & Coucher did the slatework, and Mr. John Inderrieden, of Berlin, assumed the tin and galvanized ironwork. A tower 200 feet high adorns the building, and in this are hung the four magnificent bells already mentioned. During 1881 Mr. Sarflat, of Toledo, furnished the entire material for the arches of the three naves and the spires. In June and July the plastering was done by .Messrs. Hays & Co., of Sidney. The decoration was next furnished by Fr. X. Hefele and his corps of artists from Cincinnati. Messrs. Booth & Riesler, of Buffalo, New York, furnished the seventeen magnificent windows of stained glass, twelve of which show designs worthy of a master hand. Mr. Schroeder, of Cincinnati, furnished the altars, pulpit, and communion table. Messrs. Ricker & Krift, of Delphos, furnished the pews; Schwartz & Gair the floors; and Mr. Schaefer, of Wisconsin, the organ. The whole building is a magnificent specimen of Gothic architecture, and reflects great credit upon all who in any manner contributed to the design or execution.
The Consccralion Ceremonies.-Sunday, the 2d day of October, 1881, will remain a memorable day for St. Michael’s congregation in Berlin, for on that day their new and beautiful house of God was solemnly consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop Wm. H. Elders. On Saturday afternoon the highly venerable consecrator, coming from Sidney, Ohio, was met at the boundary of the parish by the young men belonging to the congregation, about forty in number, mounted on horses, and was by them received and escorted to Berlin. As the procession came in view the bells of the new church were merrily ringing, and cannon shots resounded. The inhabitants of Berlin had also, in honor of their distinguished guest, festively decorated their houses, and upon the streets triumphal arches were erected. Soon after the arrival of the Right Rev. Bishop the relics destined for the high altar in the new church were transferred and carried over in solemn procession, in which all Berlin participated, to the old church, and there set to view during the night for reverence and adoration by the faithful. The church was not vacated the entire night by the devout, until early on Sunday morning at four o’clock the holy masses began, which were celebrated by the priests that were present. At six o’clock A. M. in the presence of the entire congregation and a large number of persons from the neighboring congregations, the imposing and solemn ceremonies of the consecration began and continued until after ten o’clock. Four priests were present. After the consecration the Right Rev. Bishop celebrated a pontilical high mass. The Rev. Moeller, D.D., acted as Master of Ceremonies, and the Rev. General-vicar P. Otto Jair, O. S. F., as assistant; as honorary deacons, the Revs. Messrs. Provincial P. Henry Drees, C. P. P. S., and P. Andrew Kunkler, C. P. P. S., of Minster, O.; as deacon, the Rev. P. Johannes Von den Brock, C. P. P. S., of Egypt; as sub-deacon, the Rev. P. Mathias Kent, C. P. P. S., of Minster. Besides these there were present in the sanctuary the Rev. Messrs. Nicholaus Nickols of Osborn, P. Albert Voag, C. P. P. S., of Minster; Honoratus Bourion, of Bellefontaine; Alcide Bourion, of Frenchtown; J. Kayser, of Milford; Francis J. Both, of Russia; O. F. Steinlage, of Piqua; Dominic Shunk, of St. Patrick, and Wm. Bigot, Pastor of the St. Michael's congregation. After the pontifical high mass Rev. N. Nickols ascended the pulpit and preached the festal sermon in the German language. He demonstrated in eloquent words to the attentive and devout congregation, how man as the temple of God must be constituted; that peculiar qualifications must distinguish him just as a building dedicated to the Lord distinguishes itself distinctly from a common dwelling-house. After Father Nickols had concluded the Right Rev. Bishop held an address to the congregation. He gave them deserved praise for their self-sacrifice and magnanimity which enabled them to erect such a magnificent temple of God and to so embellish and endow the same, that soon after its completion it could not only be dedicated, but also consecrated. He exhorted them also in the future to stand together so unanimously and generously as to serve as an example and type for other congregations.
In the afternoon at three o’clock solemn vespers were held, after which the General-vicar, P. Otto Jair, O S. F., preached. He exhorted the congregation that they should henceforth frequently and regularly visit their beautiful house of God, upon which they could look with pride; then God would likewise look complaisantly upon the temple erected to him; otherwise God would have no pleasure in the same even if it were built of pure gold and silver. During the pontifical high mass the Mænnerchor of Piqua, Ohio, sang, and during vespers, the church choir of the congregation. At the close of vespers the Te Deum was struck up, and with it the festivities closed.
The St. Michael’s church is a really magnificent structure; proudly it towers aloft with its tall slender steeple, as one of the most beautiful churches of the archdiocese. It is built in the Italian Gothic style. Four slender pillars alternately divide the interior, which is decorated extraordinarily rich, into three naves. Magnificent is the glass painting of the windows. Upon the main window in the sanctuary Christ and the archangel Gabriel are represented. Both the side windows contain respectively St. Augustine and St. Boniface. Of the fourteen other windows, five are in fresco painting, while upon the remaining are represented St. John the Baptist, the most blessed Virgin Mary, St. Anna, St. Elizabeth, St. Catharina, St. Henricus, St. Anthony, St. Lawrence, and the child Jesus. The three altars built by Mr. Schroeder. of Cincinnati, are real masterpieces, namely: the high altar whose table is supported by six small pillars. The fields between the pillars are filled up with emblems, of which the middle one contains the book with seven seals with the lamb. The tabernacle has richly ornamented folding doors; above these is a niche for the ostentation of the Most Holy Sacrament, beside which two worshipping angels are standing under canopies. The altar-picture is the crucifixion-group in a niche under a canopy which terminates in turrets with buttresses and finials richly provided with carved ornaments. The side fields contain the statues of both apostle-chiefs, likewise under canopies with richly articulated tower and pyramid. Beside the altar there are placed on both sides pedestals for worshipping angels. Both of the side altars (St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s altars) are wrought correspondingly with the high altar, and contain in the chief niche respectively St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s statue. The St. Mary’s altar contains in the side niches the statues of St. Rosa and St. Theresa; the altar table, decorated in the Gothic style, contains the statue “St. Mary.” The St. Joseph’s altar contains in the side niches the statues St. Francis Xavier and St Alois; the altar table the signature "St. Joseph." Pulpit and communion table are held in like style and are splendid works. Likewise is the organ built by Mr. Schaefer of Schleisingerville, Wis., in its outward appearance corresponding with the building style of the church, held in rich Gothic: the work praises its master.
If one, therefore, condenses the whole, it must be said that the St. Michael’s church in Berlin numbers among the most beautiful churches in all America. And what is the main point, it is free of debts and could be consecrated immediately after its completion, a prerogative which only about three churches in the archdiocese of Cincinnati can share with it.*
" The material for this sketch was obtained from Rev. Wm. Bigot, Pastor of the congregation.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883
