Struck Down But Not Destroyed
A community awakens to find their beloved church engulfed in flames. The glorious, Civil War-era St. Joseph Church in Tiffin, Ohio became a burned-out shell with only the four walls left standing. It was 1934, the depths of the Great Depression, and many feared that the structure could never be rebuilt. But the parishioners proved them wrong.
This 15-minute documentary combines never-before-seen historical footage, photos, and eyewitness accounts to piece together an incredible tale of sacrifice and rebirth.
Directed by Katie Breidenbach. Special thanks to the film’s contributors: Seneca County Museum, Tiffin-Seneca History Notebook, Tiffin-Seneca Public Library, Tiffin Ohio: A Pictorial History Through Postcards, and Advertiser-Tribune.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed.”
Media Coverage
“Struck Down But Not Destroyed” was featured on New York City’s television show “City of Churches” on Sept. 21st, 2016. Katie Breidenbach, the film’s director, was interviewed by the program’s host, Anthony Mangano, and gave insight into the film’s motivation and the struggles of production.
Premiere photo gallery
The film was released on April 10th, 2016, with the very first screening hosted by the church that was the subject of the documentary, St. Joseph in Tiffin Ohio. About 150 people attended, including most of those who were interviewed for the film.
