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Karl R. Josker | profile | all galleries >> Buffalo >> The Churches Of Buffalo tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Churches Of Buffalo

An incomplete gallery of Churches and former church buildings in Buffalo.

Arranged alphabetically minus the St., and under the name it was originally known as, if I know it, otherwise under it's current name.

As always, this is a work in progress, more will be added as time and shooting conditions permit.
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St. John the Evangelist RC Church
St. John the Evangelist RC Church		 St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church
St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church		 St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church
St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church		 St. John's Episcopal Church
St. John's Episcopal Church
St. Joseph RC Church
St. Joseph RC Church		 St. Joseph's RC Cathedral
St. Joseph's RC Cathedral		 St. Jude's Episcopal Church
St. Jude's Episcopal Church		 Kensington Evangelical Lutheran Church
Kensington Evangelical Lutheran Church
Kensington Methodist Church
Kensington Methodist Church		 Lafayette Ave. Baptist Church
Lafayette Ave. Baptist Church		 Lafayette Ave. Presbyterian Church
Lafayette Ave. Presbyterian Church		 St. Lawrence RC Church
St. Lawrence RC Church
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Ted Landphair 06-Aug-2018 17:12
What a wonderful and helpful site. We just photographed Buffalo from the air for the Library of Congress, and this site helped us correctly identify many places of worship. Good job by you!
Guest 22-Aug-2016 02:01
According to my mother, my grandmother attended a protestant church "shaped like an oval/egg" on Wholers, probably in the early 1900s. Can anyone tell me what church that might be? Thanks!
Marlene Wessel 29-Oct-2015 16:15
Looking for a photo of the demolished church that was at the corner of Elmwood and Bryant, formerly known as Pilgrim United Church of Christ. This church merged with St. Lukes in the 70's and the church on Bryant was demolished. Any photos to share?
Gerald H Wienckowski 03-Jan-2014 12:00
My family was founding parishoners of SS Peter & Paul church et al Depew New York.....we all attended the grade school and the multitude of parish activities....however..for what ever reason, the church,school,convent,rectory and hall were closed.A very sad day for all....thank God we still have he pleasant memories of that era...Sincerely, Gerald Henry Wienckowski.
Guest 28-Dec-2013 21:57
I too attended St. Nicholas Church and school in Cold Springs! I attended the school until it merged with five others and became part of Diocesan Educational Campus. I was baptized at St. Nicholas and remained a member when it became St. Benedict The Moor. I was actually looking through your site hoping to find a picture of the church and school. Can't seem to find any photos anywhere. So sad...
Drake 24-Oct-2013 03:00
Hi, Harley! I was also a member of the Cold Spring Cadet Corps. It was led by Major Lee Spellman and (music director and drum major) Captain Jack Smith. I played drums, starting with bass drum and gradually moving up to play cymbals, tom-toms and, ultimately, snare drum! Our major competition was the Downtown Cadet Corps. I still have family in Buffalo, and I wouldn't trade my childhood on the East Side for anything!
DOnna 20-Jul-2013 01:49
I see some requests for pics of St Nicholas Church in Cold Springs. Has anyone come across one?
Harley 14-Jan-2013 15:17
Hello, I attended St.Nicolas Church and School in the 1950's until abt. 1962 hen we moved away from the Cold Spring area. I live right behind the school and was one of 3 white boys living in the area. I was also part of the Cold Spring Cadet Corp, Mr. Johnson ran the corps retired polcie office. I remember some familes.
Guest 09-Jan-2013 02:24
absolutely beautiful!!!!!
Guest 26-Oct-2012 14:18
Does anyone have a picure of St.Nicolas Church and School, I attended the school in the late 50's to early 60's and a member of the church
Christina 19-Jul-2012 02:17
Hi,
I visited Buffalo today, and I saw what had to have been a lovely church at 587 Best St. Can anyone tell me what flavor of church it was? (I'd guess Episcopal, but who knows?) What's the building's current status? Thanks - and thanks for this lovely work.
Yvonne Piddington 16-Jul-2012 23:08
Thank you for these wonderful photos. I wonder if the former German M E Church which was off Hertel Ave & La Force Place is still standing and is the cemetery still there? Thanks, Yvonne Piddington, Newcastle Australia
Kathy Weir 24-May-2012 13:16
Didn't see St. Monica's Catholic Church in the list. It was on Orlando St. near Seneca St. Buffalo, NY 14210. Would you please list it? T/Y
Ron27-Apr-2012 21:15
Dear Mr. Josker,

Thanks so much for posting my comment.
I grew up in Buffalo in the shadow of the Trico plant located at Main and Rodney Sts.
I became passionate about Buffalo's architecture at a very age.
My friends and I used to roller skate on the floors of the Darwin Martin House on Jewett Pkwy. when the house was abandoned and easily accessible to anyone wanting to venture into it.
I am relocating back to Buffalo from Pasadena CA and am googling all the websites I can find about the City.
I also know a lot of information that few people are aware of.
I worked at the Bemis-Ransom Mansion for Mr.& Mrs. Philip W. Ransom during the 1970's.
It was and still is an extraordiary house.
I have so many anecdotes about the house when it was still a private residence.
I was thinking about creating a website that people could access to read about little known facts about different places in Buffalo.
Again, Thanks for posting and for all the work you've put into your websites.
I follow them with great interest. Ron Reinhardt
Ron Reinhardt 25-Apr-2012 22:58
To Joyce and all who are interested in what happened to St. Joseph's New Cathedral which stood at Delaware Ave. & W.Utica St.
This building was constructed in the style of the great medievil Cathedral's of Europe with the cornerstone having been laid in 1912.
It had all the components-flying buttresses, a soaring arched ceiling, gargoyles,Italian marble and magnificent stained glass windows.
There was nothing comparable to it anywhere in Upstate New York.
You could have compared it to New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral.
It was demolised in 1976 after having stood for a mere 64 years.
The structure was so solidly built, that it took the demolishion company far longer to tear down than anticipated.
It was purported that there was a leak in one section of the roof ( at least that was the excuse given to destroy it).
No serious engineering studies were done to actually determine what really needed to be repaired or how much it may have cost.
At that time, Bishop Edward Head had just been appointed head of the Diocese of Buffalo.
He was an outsider with no previous connection to Buffalo.
It was his hasty and suspicious decision to demolish it without any type of reasonable explanation, much to the chagrin or input of the parishioners.
Few beleived that a 64 year old building so sturdily built was in such poor condition that it should come down.
The opposite was true--the Cathedral was in almost pristine shape which made it all the more inconceiveable that it should suffer the fate cast upon it.
The real reason ( which was brought to light not long after ) was that the Bishop wanted the valuable parcel of land to build the current high rise that sits there now.
It is one of the ugliest structures in Buffalo and though it serves a noble purpose, housing for the elderly, it was scandalous and a travesty that such a blunderous decision
was made by the new Bishop.
It's not as though Buffalo even at that time was short of vacant parcels of land that would have been suitable for this type of housing.
However, internal church politics and other questionable reasons were the cause for the loss of this rare architectural treasure, an act that greatly contributed to the demise of the unique urban landscape that once flourished in the City of Buffalo.
Those who remember seeing the rubble afterwards may have noticed that the Diocese rarely if ever mentions it.
It was the official seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, which was then transferred back to St. Joseph's Old Cathedral.
I still have a small square of polished marble salvaged from the ill fated cathedral that one enterprising entreprenuer had the foresight to see that he could make a quick profit by selling a tiny peice of history to those who's sensibilities were so negatively affected.
Guest 07-Mar-2012 01:17
Are there any pictures available of the old St Boniface RC in the Fruit Belt? The Company I worked for demolished it in 1979
GUEST 19-Feb-2012 18:26
I would like to see picture posted of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, when it was located on Goodell Street. The church relocated to Sussex near Grider Street sometime in the 1970's.
Elie Chemaly 21-Dec-2011 05:03
these churches are one of my sweetest memories from Buffalo. sweet and sad - some are abandoned to the point of being de-identified. Like all abandoned buildings, it is for me an invitation to dream of the time when there were people there.
lucien l cayer 25-Sep-2011 10:32
I have a picture of the richmond avenue church of christ disciples taken in 1911 by A whipple. There is a large gathering of people out fron and a concert band. On the drum it says Broad Street Bible school Concert Band. Anybody know anything about the church and/or the band?
TERRY F. 23-Apr-2011 17:06
Does anyone have a photo of St. Lucy's R. C. Church on Swan St. where my parents were married in 1930?
bill thompson 31-Mar-2011 00:30
anyone heard of a very old church called East Presby. ?
DocS 06-Sep-2010 08:38
Wondering if the former North Park Baptist church is still in use....I think the Buffalo Korean Presbyterians were there for a while then moved out?
Lynda 15-Jun-2010 23:00
I am looking for a German United Evangelical Church, St.Peters, residing No. 192 Oak Street in 1851, I have a marriage certificate for my great great grandparents.
Pat Bismack 03-Mar-2010 16:56
I am looking for any pictures of Immiculat Conseption Church on Edward St. Our church has purchased one of the side windows for our new church, Immiculate Conseption in Cottonwood AZ. Would love any infirmation or pictures.
M Rodgers 16-Sep-2009 00:48
Mount Carmel Church (or parts of its foundation) were just discovered today during an archeological dig at the parking lot of Marine Drive Apartments
John Levchuk 09-Jun-2009 16:17
Joyce Albert asked (9/21/2007) for a photo of St. Joseph's Cathedral. I have a photo taken around 1968. If you are out there, Joyce, send me an e-mail and I will reply with the photo as an attachment.
Guest 01-Mar-2009 19:35
Maybe this the location of heaven. With all these churches, Buffalo must be a Holy City with no crime. Nice historical photo shoot.
Matthew 24-Feb-2009 13:09
Could you post a picture of Hannaniah Lutheran Church? It is the first black Lutheran mission in Buffalo, and is located on Genessee Street.
Linda 18-Jan-2009 05:35
Would you be able to add Immaculate Heart of Mary on Edison St? It is closing this November.
Guest 16-Nov-2008 03:37
Re: the previous post....that would be Masten.
Also I found Lincoln UMC as Trinity Methodist.
Thanks.
buffalogal01833
buffalogal01833 13-Nov-2008 15:12
Any chance a photo was taken of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church on Maston??
Much appreciated.
AC
Thomas Coleman Kelly 18-Aug-2008 04:21
I was baptized at St. Nicholas Church on East Utica Street in 1934. At the time we lived at 147 Chester Street. You could walk to the church. I understand the church was demolished but don't know the year. Is there a photo of this church and if so, could you please post it on this site as I don't ever remember seeing this church as an adult. I haven't lived in Buffalo for almost 20 years.
Pat 28-Jul-2008 00:18
Hi, I wonder if you could find a photo of Mount Carmel church? My mother who grew up in the old canal district, 1920s-1930s, speaks of it often. I believe it was on or near Dante Place. Thanks so much,Pat
Guest 24-Apr-2008 05:24
Would you be able to add St. Florian on Hertle Ave?? This is another church closed by the diocese merging with All Saints.
joe kempkes 06-Feb-2008 17:56
Ani DeFranco, who grew up in Buffalo, bought Asbury Delaware Method Church (349 Delaware near W. Tupper) and has converted it to an art gallery/recording studio/concert hall. She founded Righteous Babe record label.
Bob 20-Jan-2008 22:46
Just realized, I never mentioned that the debris I speak of is from St Joes new Cathederal.
Bob 10-Oct-2007 00:54
A lot of the debris from the church are now part of landfill out on the lake, somewhere around the old Shooters rest. Lot of marble can still be seen not buried or unburied by the waves
Joyce Albert 30-Sep-2007 04:42
The one church in Buffalo I long to view photos of is the "new St. Joseph's Cathedral' alas it was demolished in 77. It was made of beautiful marble and had the only examples of flying buttresses this side of the Atlantic Ocean. 22 carrillion bells were shipped for its bell tower from Europe. The tower could not hold their weight. The beauty of their sound never to be heard here. The bells sat in the basement of the church for years. Some were sold for scrap metal when the church was torn down.. My father a truck driver was in on the pick up for his boss a local scrap metal dealer. One bell was donated to Forest Lawn Cemetery and sits at the Delaware entrance .Are there any photos of that magnificant piece of architecture still around? I wish I had taken some. It was awesome.
Guest 21-Sep-2007 16:35
To Roger, that was St. Joseph's NEW Cathedral at Delaware and W. Utica. It was torn down some time ago. The story given was that it was in bad shape, but it literally took days for the wrecking ball to level the walls. The story afterwards was that the diocese got prime money for the (cleared) location.
joe kempkes 16-Sep-2007 15:34
St. Thomas Aquinas Church at Abbott Road and Tamarack was built in the 1950's while I attended St. Tommy's School. The school was on Tamarack and the "old" St. Tommy's Church was on Athol Street. They knocked down the old church and built a new school for seventh and 8th graders. A few years ago both St. Tommy's and Holy Family Schools closed and those students were all sent to St. Teresa's School.
Boy students from all three elementary schools mentioned above almost all went to Bishop Timon High School on McKinley Pkwy (located midway between St. Tommy's and Holy Family). With lower birth rates and increasing tuition (I paid $70/yr in 1962; today's students pay about $7,000/yr) Timon will probably close in the next few years.
Tony Saletta 04-Sep-2007 18:43
Tony Saletta -
Such an amazing collection of history - I did not see pictures of Saint Margarets near North Park or Saint Paul's on Delaware in Kenmore. I agree with Fr. Joe the bishops have not done well with their thinking with some of the school and church closings. New York State should provide assistance to private education; to continue the close family ties the Catholic schools encourage.
Phil Ventura 18-Aug-2007 01:14
Looking for St Lucy's Roman Cathloc Church on Swan St and Chicago St. No longer standing. Thanks.
Brian 15-Aug-2007 17:51
Your Missing St. Florian Church on Hertel
Roger 24-Jul-2007 16:42
I seem to remember a large church on the corner of Delaware Ave. & West Utica St. that was named Saint Joseph's Cathedral. Did not see it in your gallery and was wondering if it still exists.
William 03-Apr-2007 00:09
Great-grand parents / grand parents married at St. James Ep., parents and I married at S. Park Meth. So grateful for photos, now living in FL., miss Buffalo, big time. If these churches are all pretty active, maybe home isn't as spiritually forsaken as I woefully presumed. :)
Tim Schultz 08-Feb-2007 18:14
What beautiful work you do! I was born in Buffalo and our family attended the Prospect Avenue Baptist Church when I was a child, and then later when a teen for a couple years. The photos are very clear and inviting. Thanks.
guest 20-Jan-2007 14:41
Follow this site up with a PBS program "Churches of Buffalo" which takes you inside some of the most beautiful and historic churches in the country found in Buffalo.
Dr. Robert J. Pellegrine 10-Dec-2006 13:12
Thank you. I was Baptized at SAnnunciation and many of my deceased relatived attended St. Joseph.
I wonder what the old Our Lady Of Mt. Car,ellooked like? I know is no longer exists but it also is inmvolved in my heritge.
Merry Christmas
Guest 09-Jun-2006 14:59
Wow!!! This site is awesome. It is a great tribute to the beauty and splendor of Buffalo's churches. Bravo!!! I would love to see a photo of First Shiloh Baptist on Pine and the current Free Spirit Baptist on Titus.
Terry G 05-Jun-2006 18:06
The site is great! For your information, the Christadelphian Ecclesia on Glendhu Ave. in South Buffalo, was the original St. Simon's Episcopal Church, now located on Cazenovia St.
Eldar Kadymov10-Apr-2006 20:19
Holy smokes indeed ! I thought Montreal is holding leadership in this matter, yet, wow !
Guest 04-Apr-2006 11:36
Great site. any chance of posting the UU church on Elmwood and First Shiloh Baptist Church on Pine St. I know they are modern-looking buildings, but from what I understand are impressive nonetheless.
Tony Dombroski 24-Mar-2006 02:36
Bravo, Multisimo Bravo... I often try to give my california friends an idea of what it was like in my youth.. in Cheektowaga... these Churches pages bring back the feeling of how strong the bond was between the people of the Niagara Frontier... Their commitment to religion.. to work ... to family... and to getting along together... the american dream... All of us working together
Bill Wolfers 17-Feb-2006 22:02
Great job! Did you miss the Unitarian Church on Ferry and Elmwood, Trinity UCC on Gold Street, the old Bai-los bar on Lovejoy at Bailey?
We spend winters in Venice Florida, but grew up in the Iron Island (Lovejoy neighborhood) an old Buffalo railroad community. Thank you !
Maria 13-Jan-2006 18:17
I must say I love all the pictures here. There is one thing I would like to say after looking at all 19 pages filled with beautiful churches. I was hoping to see a Greek Orthodox Church. There are a few in Buffalo. At least ONE because I used to live there. The inside was even more beautiful than the outside, a work of art.
Thank you for reminding me about a place that is dear to my heart, no matter how many years I have been away.
Ashley Hockenberry19-Dec-2005 02:48
Nice
Rob Demers 24-Nov-2005 19:24
There are just plain incredible pictures. I Live in Eugene Oregon and can travel to another part on the country. What a tribute to the people of Buffalo to God.
Guest 11-Nov-2005 23:23
How about the Greek Orthodox Church at Delaware and Utica, and St George Orthodox Catholic Church at Amherst and Nottingham. Thanks for a beautiful record, anyway. Jane J.
Brian Mann 25-Oct-2005 19:47
What a great time I had seeing the churches of my childhood......
Lynn 18-Oct-2005 04:43
I am in search of photos of the New St. Joseph's Cathedral which existed on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. I have great memories of that church and would love to have some pictures. If you know where I can locate some, please email me at LMB@Cableaz.com ~ thanks!
Suzanne (Serowski) Kerzic 15-Sep-2005 01:09
Oooops, my e-mail address is SLK290@comcast.net
Suzanne (Serowski) Kerzic 15-Sep-2005 01:07
Looking at the pix of CB brought back a lot of memories, but looking at the churches, especially St. Casimir's, really makes me nostalgic. I remember visiting family in Buffalo and taking a walk around the old neighborhood (Kaisertown)and just being SHOCKED that St. Casimir's parochial school was torn down. Does anyone remember having "gym" up on the third floor? The Christmas parties where we were terrified that Santa would call us up on stage and give us a spanking? And waiting with baited breath for Monsignor to tell us we did such an excellent job on the Christmas pageant that we could have the next day off? I wonder how kids nowadays would react if their schools went back to the old "rules"...raising your hand to answer a question and having to stand up to do so? And getting up when an adult entered the room? And Friday afternoons taking those little hand-held brooms and sweeping under the desks? Wow, I could go on and on... If there's anyone out there who went to St. Casimir's in the 50's/60's and would like to take a walk down "memory lane", drop me a line.
Bob Crocker 03-Sep-2005 05:42
I think the church punk rocker and record producer Ani DiFranco bought is Asbury Methodist on Delaware Avenue. As a Buffalo native living in LA now, one of the things I miss most after 20 years in California is the architecture, especially of churches. Thank you for your beautiful record of them and the other great photos on your site.

If you can find any older pictures of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer on Elmwood and Ferry, where I was confirmed, it would be interesting to compare them to the aftermath of the regrettable condo conversion on the Ferry Street side.
John Louis Lassen Perry28-Sep-2004 00:53
buffalo roaming. great variety. so many expressions of collective spirit, each uniquely done. a sign of the a strong social life less commonly seen today. excellent. keep documenting
Fr. Joe 19-Sep-2004 23:18
I think it is a lasting legacy of those bishops who chose to close the beautiful churches rather than figure out a solution to the problem of saving such treasures. It truly is heartbreaking that edifices that were built for God's honor and glory by the sweat and pennies of immigrants are cast aside like discarded toys. Money was spent in large numbers by the church to protect priests. These photos show how it could have been better spent. If only the bishops of Buffalo who closed these parishes had more foresight. Thank you for your part in preserving the history of faith that otherwise might easily have fallen by the wayside.
Mike 12-Aug-2004 15:09
I do not remeber which church it is but a Buffalo Native, Ani DeFranco purchased one on Delaware near West Tupper.

Found a brief blurb about it on an NPR site, the church was supposed to be demoed and she bought it to save the historical church.

Buffalo is full of some awsome architecture, great pictures.
Steven Giovangelo 13-Jul-2004 04:37
These are magnificent photos. As a Catholic, it broke my heart to read of these beautiful historic churches closed, vandalized or in one case converted to a mosque. But thank you for taking these beautiful photos of the American Christian and Jewish heritage. You have done a great service
maria neff 09-Jul-2004 06:13
How fortunate we are that you have such appreciation of the city of Buffalo. Memories flood as I scan these pages. Thanks so much for including churches of my childhood, especially St. Nicholas ukrainian Catholic Church.
Tom 02-Jul-2004 02:23
Your photos seem to jump off the screen. Did you use a polarizer when you took these photos of the churches, or did you enhance them in Photoshop or Elements?? Also, I can't make up my mind whether to buy the Canon 17-40L lens, or the 24-70L 2.8 but after seeing your pics, there is a strong and less expensive argument for the Canon 17-40L. Anyway, enjoyed all your galleries, but I think the "Churches" gallery is my favorite.
Trevor Benedict 29-May-2004 10:40
I find no words to appreciate your Passion. Wonderful collection. Thanks again. Time worth spent.
Guest 11-May-2004 00:42
Wow Really Nice Images, Love the Churches!!
Jaime Rappa Robbins06-May-2004 19:21
Beautiful! Thank you for transporting me back to my childhood. There was once a beautiful RC church somewhere near Broadway and Goodyear Ave. I think it was named St. John Cantis or something similar. I went there for catholic school for a year and a half when I was only 7 or 8 years old. I wonder if it still stands.
Wally Bingham 06-May-2004 02:06
This is a great site for all of us transplanted Buffalonians, but I was sorry to see that there was no picture of St. Pauls Episcopal church (I hope it's still there). I was baptised there in 1947.
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