Philippus United Church of Christ, Cincinnati

Standing tall with a golden hand pointing skyward, Philippus United Church of Christ is a distinct landmark in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Located at the northwest corner of West McMicken and Ohio Avenues, the church is known for its striking Gothic Revival architecture and deep roots in the city’s German-American heritage.

Completed in 1891, the red brick structure features characteristic pointed-arch windows, a gabled entrance, and a prominent tower adorned with a rose window—all elements of the Gothic Revival style. The building’s most eye-catching feature, however, is the gilded hand atop its steeple, a symbolic gesture of spiritual guidance and aspiration.

Philippus Church originated from Saint Matthews German Evangelical Church, a key center of Cincinnati’s 19th-century Free Protestant movement. It served the city’s German-speaking community, holding services in German until 1921. After the 1934 merger forming the Evangelical and Reformed Church, it became Philippus Evangelical and Reformed Church and joined the United Church of Christ in 1957.

Philippus United Church of Christ remains rooted in community, history, and the upward-pointing hope represented by its iconic steeple.