St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church (Buffalo, New York)

St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church
42°55′09″N 78°50′40″W / 42.9191578°N 78.844516°W / 42.9191578; -78.844516
Location 407 Northland Ave, Buffalo, New York
Country  United States
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Founded May, 1912
Dedicated April, 1928
Consecrated 1926
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status "Unused"
Architect(s) Murphy and Olmsted with George J. Dietel
Style Romanesque
Completed April 15, 1928
Construction cost US$400 thousand
Specifications
Capacity 900
Height 140 feet (42.7 m)
Materials Indiana limestone

Saint Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church is located at 407 Northland Ave, in Buffalo, New York. The Italian Romanesque Revival style church previously served as a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. The church was closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese in 1993. The church is a Buffalo landmark.

History

This Church was the third to the parish, and was built in response to demand for a larger place of worship. The interior of the church contains a number of mosaics along the wall surfaces.[1] The exterior of the church was built of Indiana limestone, with no structural steel being used in the construction of the building's shell. The church is topped with a Mediterranean tile roof.[2]

While operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, the church contained a Teller-Kent organ.

Present day

After closing the church, the parish was merged with St. Nicholas Catholic Church. Shortly after, the church building was sold to the Terbernacle Baptist Church. After occupying the building for nearly 10 years, the building fell into disrepair and was abandoned. In 2003, the church was purchased at auction by the Reverend Perry Davis, after having been flipped several times and pillaged.[3] The building itself is deteriorating. The stained-glass windows have been removed and there are areas of roof damage. The old school has been razed. The adjacent rectory is now privately owned.[4]

References

  1. Napora, James. "Saint Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church - 1926-1927". artvoice. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  2. Ederer, Martin (2003). Buffalo's Catholic Churches: Ethnic communities and the architectural legacy. digital@batesJackson. pp. 93–94. ISBN 1-932583-01-7.
  3. Koch, Peter. "Fall from Grace". Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  4. Loopnet. "High Cap Cashflow Student Housing". Retrieved 2011-05-01.
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