The original building used for Masses (celebrated by visiting priests) at what is now Holy Angels Parish in Sidney was blown up by the anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant Know-Nothing Party (strongly supported in Ohio) in 1855.

1848
First Masses celebrated in parishioners’ homes.
1852
20 x 60-ft. former cooper’s shop purchased for the church.
1855
Know-Nothings detonated a keg of gunpowder, destroying the building (site is currently the parish Senior Center).
1858-62
First church building constructed.
1876
First school constructed; staffed by Sisters of Charity
1889
Holy Angels High School begins at the parish school.
May 15, 1892
Current church consecrated.
1910-1911
Interior frescoes added, new organ installed.
1937
Current school building built after a fire. The limestone- faced, Art Deco style building also housed the high school.
1954
Holy Angels High School built.
1970
Holy Angels and Piqua Catholic (previously St. Mary) High Schools merge to form Lehman Catholic High School.
1981-83
Organ, doors and steps replaced. Complete interior renovation.
2004
Major renovation of the current Art Deco style, limestone Holy Angels School.
2011
Major renovation repaints the church
interior and restores much of the decoration, including repainting the statues and uncovering the side altar paintings.

Joseph Altenbach
Born on a small farm in Fryburg, OH, and trained as a carpenter, Altenbach became one of the area’s premier builders. The ambitious Gothic design of the 140 x 60-ft. Holy Angels Church, with its two spires, third-floor choir loft and 52-ft. central ribbed ceiling, helped cement his reputation.