The history of this church is available on the internet (visit link) and excerpts are provided below:
Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, located in the heart of historic German Village, beautifully brings together history and tradition with a vibrant faith life. Considered by many to be the landmark building of the area, St. Mary’s stands as a symbol of the religious foundation of the German immigrants who settled here during the 1800’s.
In 1863, the German-speaking Catholics in south Columbus began working toward a church of their own. Two years later, in 1865, the parish of St. Mary’s was founded. A temporary combination of a one-room church, one-room school and second floor rectory was erected at a cost of $5,000. This building, located behind the present church, is now called the Specht Center after the church’s first pastor, Msgr. Francis X. Specht.
In 1866, construction began on St. Mary’s, the third Catholic Church in Columbus. Under the direction of architects Blackburn and Koehler, the church was constructed at a cost of $40,000.00. The building is of German Gothic design and is 62.5 feet wide, 140 feet long, 75 feet high and 60 feet clear. The ceiling vault is unsupported. On November 29, 1868, St. Mary’s was dedicated by Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans.
In 1987, church leaders initiated a major renovation to preserve the architecture and historical beauty of the church. This renovation included: completely restoring the ceiling and wall artwork, enlarging the sanctuary area, relocating the ambo, new carpet and wood floor, refinishing the pews, installing new kneelers, establishing a north-side entrance handicapped ramp, new public address system and new Stations of the Cross.
On December 6, 1987, the community celebrated the restoration of St. Mary’s in a dedication ceremony, with the Most Reverend James A. Griffin, Bishop of Columbus, presiding.
In 1994, the slate roof of the steeple was replaced. In 1998, air conditioning was added to the church, a gift of St. Mary alumnus Dr. & Mrs. W. W. O’Donnell. In 2002, renovation of the Burkley Center provided office space, restroom facilities, meeting spaces, and an elevator to aid accessibility.
A historical marker locsted at the church reads as follows:
St. Mary Church was dedicated in 1868 in response to the spiritual needs of the growing German-Catholic population of Columbus' South Side. The original schoolhouse, which stands behind the church, was erected in 1865 under the direction of Rev. Francis X. Specht, St. Mary's first pastor. It served as a temporary house of worship until the Gothic-style church was completed. St. Mary's distinctive spire - soaring 197 feet into the Columbus sky - was added in 1893.
By 1865, Columbus' population was one-third German, and the South Side had become a thriving working-class community. The new immigrants built homes and churches and established schools. Local German businesses, organizations, and newspapers prospered.
German Village is one of the premier historic restorations in the world, and is the largest privately funded historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. More than 1,600 buildings have been restored since 1960.