Holy Angels Church History
The original building used for Masses (celebrated by visiting priests) at what is now Holy Angels Parish in Sidney was blown up by the anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant Know-Nothing Party (strongly supported in Ohio) in 1855.
1848 - First Masses celebrated in parishioners’ homes.
1852 -
20 x 60-ft. former cooper’s shop purchased for the church.
1855 -
Know-Nothings detonated a keg of gunpowder, destroying the building (site is currently the parish Senior Center).
1858-62 -
First church building constructed.
1876 -
First school constructed; staffed by Sisters of Charity
1889 -
Holy Angels High School begins at the parish school.
May 15, 1892 -
Current church consecrated.
1910-1911 -
Interior frescoes added, new organ installed.
1937 -
Current school building built after a fire. The limestone- faced, Art Deco style building also housed the high school.
1954 -
Holy Angels High School built.
1970 -
Holy Angels and Piqua Catholic (previously St. Mary) High Schools merge to form Lehman Catholic High School.
1981-83 -
Organ, doors and steps replaced. Complete interior renovation.
2004 -
Major renovation of the current Art Deco style, limestone Holy Angels School.
2011 -
Major renovation repaints the church interior and restores much of the decoration, including repainting the statues and uncovering the side altar paintings.
Joseph Altenbach
Born on a small farm in Fryburg, OH, and trained as a carpenter, Altenbach became one of the area’s premier builders. The ambitious Gothic design of the 140 x 60-ft. Holy Angels Church, with its two spires, third-floor choir loft and 52-ft. central ribbed ceiling, helped cement his reputation.