The history of the Youngstown Diocese is going on display. The former Saints Cyril and Methodius Church is being turned into an archive facility. 

The archive facility is just part of a campus preserving the valley's religious history. It will also be home to over ten thousand documents.

“This will allow us to preserve the documents. We do have another site of a closed church building which serves as a bigger space  for larger artifacts. For example, items that have been taken from closed church buildings,” said Bishop David Bonnar, Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.

There is over 200 years of memories that will sit in the All Saints Archival Center. 

“Each and every person and event is sacred. It's a part of our identity. It's who we are,” said Bonnar. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us all to continue to remember. Remember the faith and legacy of our great diocese, which as you know, includes 6 counties.”

The campus will include an archive center, which will be in the repurposed church, and a building that will preserve documents in environmentally controlled storage.

“We need it to store the tens of thousands of documents that we have and will have related to the history of the diocese which is northeastern Ohio. It's from lake to river. It's Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Portage and Stark counties,” said Joan Lawson, Diocesan Archivist.

Larger exhibits, like chalices and awards,  will be on display in the former Saints Cyril and Methodius Church. Bishop David Bonnar said this space will give people an opportunity to learn about the Dioscese's rich history.

“This campus is for our entire diocese and beyond. It is my hope and prayer that it will be a place that will be visited often. As students go on field trips. As families take a day and visit,” said Bonnar.

The Youngstown Diocese has been working on the project for nearly two years. The hope is to break ground on the campus in the spring.