YOUNGSTOWN — The Diocese of Youngstown on Monday broke ground for the new All Saints Diocesan Archives Center on the campus of the former SS. Cyril and Methodius Church.

The 1900 church building at 252 E. Wood St. in downtown Youngstown was closed in 2022.

Bishop David Bonnar has prioritized an archive project for the diocese since 2022, stressing the importance of preserving church history.. He said the SS. Cyril and Methodius Church building will be preserved and repurposed as an exhibit and public programming space. A new 4,900-square foot, two story, climate-controlled building for archives will be built adjacent to the church, on the site of the church’s rectory and garage, which will be razed.

The new facility will provide for the protection and ordering of records required by church law. Officials have said the new archive facility will preserve the records of churches that have closed, as well as records of diocesan offices and other diocesan organizations.

Records required to be kept by church law include baptisms, confirmations, marriages and deaths.

The remainder of the space includes a public reading room for visitors and researchers and office space for archives staff. The property will have expanded greenspace, energy efficient upgrades and repurposed woodwork salvaged from the former rectory. There also will be exhibits that will tell the story of the people and churches of the Diocese of Youngstown. Attending the groundbreaking were officials from the diocese, state officials and community members.

The $2.7 million building, which is expected to be open at the end of summer 2026, will house a collection of archives, including records from six bishops and more than 116 parishes, spanning more than 200 years.

Diocesan archives from 1943 through 1978 are now being housed at Kent State University, and active parishes still will house their own sacramental records.