St. John bell tower demolished after structural collapse prompts safety concerns
The bell tower of St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein was demolished today, following the collapse of the church’s west wall on December 29, 2025. The wall fell after high winds and ongoing structural decline affected the building, which had already been damaged by a fire seven months earlier.
Church officials consulted with structural engineers and safety experts before deciding that demolishing both the church and its bell tower was necessary to protect public safety. There were concerns that the bell tower could fall onto State Route 119 if left standing. Efforts to remove only part of the tower were deemed unsafe by engineering teams and demolition crews who arrived at the site on January 2.
Father Ken Schnipke, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, commented on the situation: “This is a difficult day for our parish. But it is also an important one in the journey of our parish into the future of St. John the Baptist Church.” He added, “In the beginning, God created all things and breathed new life into our world. Perhaps the wind of God is breathing new life into St. John the Baptist Church.”
Since last year’s fire, parish leaders have worked to preserve sacred items from inside St. John’s Church so they can be used in any future rebuilding efforts. Items preserved include stained glass windows now being restored by Window Creations; over a thousand organ pipes that have been cleaned and stored; as well as entry doors, frames, and stained glass transom windows from the main entrance. Careful work has also protected decorative stonework around what remains of the church façade.
Despite losing its historic bell tower—a landmark above local farm fields—church leadership emphasized that this does not signal an end for their community. They expressed gratitude for support received during this period.
Planning for a new worship space is underway with attention to continuity and remembrance while looking forward to providing a spiritual home for future generations. The parish committee responsible for rebuilding is close to selecting an architecture firm to help plan what comes next.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati serves nearly 440,000 Catholics across 19 counties and operates more than 100 primary and secondary schools with over 41,000 students enrolled.
