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Karl R. Josker | all galleries >> Buffalo >> The Churches Of Buffalo > St. Louis RC Church
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29-APR-2004 Karl R. Josker

St. Louis RC Church

800 Main St. Buffalo

This parish is the oldest in the City of Buffalo. This building is the third church on the site, and it dates from 1889. It is one of the largest church buildings in Buffalo.

Major renovations were done in 2003, including repainting of the interior. It is simply beautiful, and despite its' size, is warm and inviting. It is the closest Buffalo has to an European cathedral, what with it's numerous historical plaques commemorating the service of previous priest's.

A final note, this is the most accessible church in Buffalo, there is always parking on Main St., and parking in the church lot off Franklin. The church is seemingly always open, in fact, I have never found it locked. The staff is friendly and welcoming. The church office is located on Edward, in the first building immediately behind the church.

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Bill, Tom, & Joe Hunt from CA 16-Oct-2013 03:28
My son, my brother and I flew into Buffalo from California late on a recent Thursday night. We planned to stay the night and drive to a Pennsylvania camping trip the next day. While in Buffalo, we thought it important to find the restaurant where Buffalo Chicken Wings were invented. The restaurant was closed, but the trip took us past St. Louis Church in the middle of the night. We were blown away by the sight of it (especially because we are Catholics) and agreed that we should go back the next morning for a visit. We went Friday morning and met Ted, the church caretaker. The inside of the church took our breath away. The stained glass windows, the stone statues, the wood carvings and the natural light were comparable to a Medieval Cathedral in Europe. The beauty & majesty of the church is inspiring in its glory to God and makes you ask yourself questions such as: would our generation today commit itself to such a grand investment in His honor? Do we have the selfless commitment of our Catholic forbearers? It also forces you to think historically about Buffalo back to the time of horse & carriage and skilled tradesmen cutting stone, making colored glass, and carving wood by hand. St Louis Church is a masterpiece of architecture functioning not as a tourist destination, but for its original purpose. Inspired worship and glory to God, on a humble, daily basis.
Tom Walters 18-Sep-2007 21:48
I lived just outside the Allentown neighborhood in the '80's and whenever I looked over at St. Louis' spire, I was always reminded of that of Strasbourg Cathedral. Funny that St. Louis is of French and German Gothic architecture, because the city of Strasbourg is located just over the border from Germany. This is definitely one of the most beautiful buildings in the area.