Precious Blood, Chickasaw

Address: 35 South Maple St., Chickasaw, Ohio, 45826

Phone: (419) 925-4775 Website

Mass Times: Sun. 09:00; Wed. 07:30; Vigil of Holy Day: 01:00 (Call); Holy Day: 01:00

Parish Founded: 1903 Church Built: 1967

Architect: Robert Holtmeier Architectural Style:

History: At a time in the 1830’s as a procession of churches were being built all through the area of Mercer County there was an offer by settler Albert Stammen to donate five acres for a church to be built in the neighborhood lying northwest of the present mill some 100 feet west of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad tracks. This offer, however, was not welcomed by the Chickasaw people; according to one account they preferred having a hotel. Chickasaw was passed by. Settlers traveled to St. Sebastian in the woods a couple miles north.

Two generations later the people of Chickasaw built a hall like structure and a petition was made to the Archbishop for a chapel giving as a reason that some old people would like to go to Mass occasionally during the week. Permission was granted, and a “Chapel of Ease” was made of the hall. In 1896 a steeple was placed on the building and a bell arrived in 1898. The tragic burning of St. Sebastian church in early 1903 caused interest in enlarging the church at Chickasaw. By July the church was enlarged.

When Father Dick retired in 1962, Father Francis Uecker, C.PP.S. took on the project of building the new (present) church which broke ground in 1965. The church was completed and cornerstone laid in 1967. The all brick church is built on church property west of the old church and seats 426 persons. Some of the decorative designs of the new church have the theme of the Precious Blood as their inspiration.