HOLY TOLEDO! History and Architecture in the Area’s Most Pious Places

While there are several stories that try to explain the origin of the expression, “Holy Toledo,” no one has proven what it really is. Some say gangsters coined the phrase in the 1920s and 1930s because Toledo was a safe-haven for gangs. The phrase can also be traced back to Vaudeville performers who used the expression to explain poor attendance at shows in Toledo. However, it is likely that Toledo’s many churches of all faiths, particularly those along Collingwood Boulevard, may have inspired the nickname.

Toledo is also the home of several historic cemeteries where the city’s founding families rest. Genealogists and lovers of history and architecture can often be found around these historic landmarks that provide a glimpse into Toledo’s rich past.

What follows is a guide to some of Toledo’s more significant churches and cemeteries:

First Congregational Church was established in 1844 and the structure itself was built in 1914 at 2315 Collingwood Blvd. The building is a beautiful example of Early Rennaissance style with its brick exterior and stately columns. The church’s windows have been called the finest in Toledo and among the most impressive in the United States.

Organized by Irish Catholics who migrated to the Toledo area to work on the canals, St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church was dedicated at the turn of the 20^th century. The church, at 130 Avondale Ave., is a beautiful example of Neo-Eclectic style and it endures as one of Toledo’s most important and creative churches.

Salem Lutheran Church is a Gothic structure built in 1870. At 1126 Huron St., the interior of the church has been renovated three times while the exterior has been left in its original form.

The brick Gothic Revival-style St. Francis De Sales Roman Catholic Church was built in 1870 and stands at 501 Cherry St. This church has an interesting history having been home to Congregational, Presbyterian, Unitarian and Episcopal churches before a Catholic parish purchased it.

Located off I-75 in Perrysburg, The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo is perhaps the largest and most beautiful Masjid in the entire United States. It is fitting because Toledo has a rich Muslim and Arabic history. Also, many of the city buildings, streets and museums have Arabic names. Built in 1983, the traditional Arabic-styled structure with its 135-foot tall minarets and white rounded dome can be seen far off. It is located at 25877 Scheider Rd.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 1201 Madison Ave. was the second Methodist church organized in Toledo in 1836. The present church was constructed in 1897 in the Neo-Classic style. St. Paul’s is also home to the oldest organ in the city. Made in England, it has pipework that dates back to the 17^th century.

Ashland Avenue Baptist Church is located at 2001 Ashland Ave. and was built in 1892. This church is one of the few in Toledo built in the Romanesque style.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is unique because it was built in several stages from 1904 to 1928. The church, at 2272 Collingwood Blvd., was being built in Academic Gothic style and was never finished.

First Unitarian Church resides at 2210 Collingwood Blvd. and was built in 1923 in the Academic Georgian Colonial style that was popular at the time. Its elements include red brick and white wood trim, as well as a tall spire and arched windows.

In 1915, after increased interest in Christian Science hit Toledo, the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, was organized. The building, however, wasn’t erected until after World War I because all focus was on the war effort. The structure’s cubical shape and elegant pillars reflect the goals of the designers, who we