Tim Barrett knows every inch of St. Stephen Catholic Church on West 54th Street. And he enjoys sharing his knowledge. 

While the exterior of the church is relatively plain, it does feature gargoyles and a flying buttress (the only one on Cleveland’s West Side). It’s the interior, with its exquisite woodwork, luminous stained glass windows, and individually carved sculptures, that makes the church “one of Cleveland’s best examples of a monumental landmark with a tangible sense of place,” according to the program for Cleveland History Days, a celebration of the city’s rich history that wrapped up June 30. 

In fact, local historians call the church “a touch of Europe” because its Gothic Revival style is similar to that of many of Europe’s most famous churches and to such recognizable complexes as the Houses of Parliament in London.

The first Mass at St. Stephen was held in 1876, and the church was dedicated in 1881. The church was built by German immigrants, and the windows came from a famous glass studio in Munich. The painted Stations of the Cross each have 16-foot oak frames.

The statues on the altar are hollow, Barrett said as he showed photos of open backs that allow the wood to expand and contract with temperature changes. Many of the faces on the statues look German. They were carved in Cleveland by craftsmen trained in Europe. A statue of St. Anne with her daughter, Mary, as a child is so detailed that St. Anne seems to be using her finger to hold a place in the book she is carrying. 

‘It’s good to see these places in Cleveland’

Barrett, who grew up in the parish and has dedicated himself to preserving Cleveland’s history, told a group of about 100 people who gathered at the church on Sunday, June 30, how immigrants who came to Cleveland in the 1800s built the Ohio & Erie Canal, making the city a crucial trading center. Those groups, he said, practiced their faith in part by building churches. While some of the city’s notable early Catholic churches no longer stand, St. Stephen still graces the quiet West 54th Street. (Metro Catholic School is adjacent to the church.)

Barrett said the Victorian era brought renewed attention to Gothic architecture. St. Stephen Church was designed by Cleveland architects Frank Cudell and John Richardson. Their firm also designed the Perry-Payne Building downtown and Franklin Castle. 

“Our question is: Can we have enough interest in preserving these spaces?” Barrett said.

Mike Krinov of Brunswick attended the presentation at St. Stephen with his son, Alex, who studied history at Baldwin Wallace University. They said they enjoyed seeing the historic space. 

“This church is beautiful,” said Mike Krinov. 

The father and son, who were both wearing Guardians shirts, also participated in the History Days tour of the fabled League Park. 

“It’s good to see these places in Cleveland,” Alex Krinov said, “to see the history.”

Cleveland History Days, with more than 70 events, was organized by Canalway Partners, a nonprofit cultural heritage group that has been organizing History Days since 2018. Co-founder Tom Yablonsky said Canalway worked with 38 organizations on this year’s event. “Take a Hike” walking tours during History Days included the Ohio Freedom Path Hike, which followed part of the Underground Railroad in Cleveland.

Tours also included Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Fairfax, the Cozad-Bates House near University Circle and Veterans Memorial Bridge. The final event was at Lake View Cemetery. 

Mera Cardenas, executive director of Canalway, said part of the organization’s mission is to “connect people to place.” 

Yablonsky said the building tours and hikes did just that. “There’s a lot more to see in Cleveland,” he said.