Architectural Tour April 18, 2009

From Steven Litt's PD blog:

Clevelanders concerned about the fate of the city's architecturally outstanding Catholic churches have a chance to learn more on Saturday.

Architectural historian Tim Barrett will lead free public tours of St. Colman, 2027 W. 65th St.; and St. Stephen, 1930 W. 54th St.; at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively.

The Diocese of Cleveland recently listed St. Colman as one of dozens of churches throughout Northeast Ohio that will close due to a shortage of money and priests and a dwindling church population that's migrating to suburbs far beyond older urban neighborhoods.

St. Colman, designed in the Baroque style, is to merge with St. Stephen, a Gothic Revival church, at the site of St. Stephen. Parishioners at St. Colman are appealing the decision of Bishop Richard Lennon.

The Ohio & Erie Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America, a non-profit organization based in New York, is sponsoring the tours as the first in a series aimed at raising awareness about the richness of Cleveland's sacred architecture.

Participants in the tours are encouraged to bring sketchbooks, watercolors and cameras. The Institute of Classical Architecture anticipates organizing an exhibition to show off artworks inspired by the tour series.

To RSVP, email ohio@classicist.org or call 216-631-0557.