About Us

If you have an interest in helping us with the upkeep of our beautiful church, please contact us.

By mail:
  10205 Lorain Avenue
  Cleveland, OH  44111

By phone:
  (216) 251-0300

By email:
  [email protected]

We are a Roman Catholic parish in the city of Cleveland. Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and nourished by the Eucharist, we strive to be a visible witness of God’s love through life-giving worship, compassionate outreach in our neighborhood, authentic fellowship, educational excellence and ongoing faith formation, and the development and use of our spiritual gifts.

  In 1902, Cleveland's third Bishop, Bishop Ignatius Horstmann established the parish just outside the city limits - in what was then the Village of Lindale - to serve Cleveland's growing population and expansion west. Bishop Ignatius tasked the parish council with recommending the parish's name. St. Ignatius of Antioch was chosen in honor of the Bishop Ignatius' patron saint. The Denison Land Company donated a small stretch of property on Lorain Avenue on which the original church and school was erected. The first Mass was celebrated on November 15, 1903. But, due to Cleveland's rapid population growth, a new church and school were soon needed.

  In 1925-1930, the new (and current) church was constructed. Stylistically, the shape, layout and other architectural features are inspired by the first churches built in Rome and Florence when Christianity was legalized in 313 A.D. Byzantine influences are also seen in the Church's exterior and interior mosaic work, while the beautiful stained-glass windows are of French-gothic influence. The half-dome (apse) of the sanctuary is a reinterpretation of the "tree of life" motif taken from the 12th century apse of the Basilica of St. Clement in Rome, which contains the holy relics of St. Ignatius. The ceiling depicts Jesus' family tree beginning with Jesse, the father of King David, at the edge of the sanctuary. In preparation for the Church's 50th Anniversary, a new Botocini marble altar was installed.

  The church incorporates various building materials including Indiana limestone, Pittsburgh steel, wood, plaster, and brass. 24 columns of Italian marble topped with capitals of Constantinian design support the 54-foot high ceiling. The most prominent exterior feature of the church is its campinale (Italian for "bell tower"), which stands at 210 feet.