The Fire

On May 29, 2025, a fire ravaged St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein, OH. Exactly one year later, the space where the Church sat for more than a century lies empty. Dozens of community members gathered on the property in prayer, led by their pastor, Fr. Ken Schnipke, C.PP.S. 

“It has been a year of loss and letting go, reminiscing and reverencing, and now healing and hope,” said Fr. Schnipke to the crowd before him. “We pray that the process of designing and rebuilding St. John the Baptist Church may strengthen our faith and remind us that we are building more than brick and mortar.”

Two hundred tons of debris was removed from the building once the fire—sparked during roof repairs—died away. But a few sacred items were salvaged, the tabernacle, the Blessed Sacrament, most vestments and sacred vessels among them. Over the next several months, significant efforts were made to preserve additional sacred items, artwork, furnishings, approximately 1,040 of the church’s organ pipes, and architectural elements so they may be incorporated into the future church.

Demolition

The building sat empty for seven months before the decision to demolish was made necessary when high winds and the declining condition of the church caused the west wall to collapse on Dec. 29, 2025. Concerned that the bell tower could collapse onto State Route 119, demolition began Jan. 2, 2026. 

With the demolition came renewed salvage efforts. In consultation with Cleveland Quarries, select pieces of sandstone from the façade were saved and a few stained glass windows are being restored by Window Creations. 

Rebuilding

Today there is no remaining evidence of the historic church, except for the salvaged items carefully being restored or stored away until they are given new life in the new church. Grass seed is spread over the empty lot to prevent erosion as the rebuilding efforts take shape. Despite the empty land, the Church lives on in the people who continue to show up for one another, acting as the Body of Christ.

“Over the last year, I have been continually impressed with the resilience, commitment, and dedication of this community,” remarked Archbishop Robert Casey in a letter to the faithful of Maria Stein. “You have leaned on one another with the same neighborly spirit that defines this rural community. May God continue to bless this parish, and all people who call St. John the Baptist Parish home.”

While the design phase for the rebuild has yet to begin, the preparations are well underway. The St. John the Baptist Building Committee is actively working with the insurance company to secure accurate funding for the next chapter of St. John the Baptist Church. And the architects, Freytag and Associates, Inc., are meticulously reviewing the insurance estimates for building components. The intention is for the new structure to reflect the original structure, while accommodating the growing community’s needs.

You can follow along with building progress at https://www.marioncatholiccommunity.org/st-john-recovery-blog.