INDIANAPOLIS — On Wednesday, March 27, the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Committee heard many voices urging them to designate Holy Cross Church, 1401 E. Ohio St., a historic landmark. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis closed the church in 2014, merging it with St. Philip Neri, after 100 years of service to the community. The Archdiocese recently announced plans to demolish the building and sell it.
The committee heard from several in the Holy Cross neighborhood on the near eastside who noted that the church’s architecture was unique. A representative from the Archdiocese stated that they could not sell the church to another person because under church law, Catholic churches could not be sold to be used for non-religious purposes or be used by a company that went against the teaching of the Catholic faith. He also stated that not allowing the church to demolish the structure would violate their constitutional right to determine what happens to the property.
The committee voted unanimously to designate Holy Cross as a historic landmark, prohibiting the Archdiocese from demolishing the structure.
The neoclassical Church of the Holy Cross was built beginning in 1896, serving the needs of German, Italian and Irish residents. The original building was damaged in a tornado in 1927 and rebuilt. The property also has a school and gymnasium, which were also shuttered in 2014. Parts of the facade have fallen and the property is now surrounded by fencing.