Buffalo's Faith Elevators

Here's the Church, where's the Steeple?

Wind, fire and ice have not been kind to the steeples in Buffalo. The winter of 2000 was particularly hard as severe damage was done to cupolas of St. Stanislaus on the East Side and Assumption in Black Rock. Both of these churches were restored at great cost that was only partially paid for by insurance. My thanks to all who contributed to their restorations.

A lightning strike during Storm 2000 resulted in the removal of the cross and cupola on the left tower of St. Stanislaus. The complete gridlock of Buffalo's streets during the storm made it a miracle that the fire department was able to arrive minutes after the fire was discovered and prevent serious damage to this historical church.

	Just a few days later strong winds blew off the cross on top of Assumption's left tower.

Two years later insurance covered the $32,000 cost to replace Assumption's cupola. However insurance will not cover the cost to repair the eight clock faces at an estimated $40,000.

	Restoration of the cupola for St. Stanislaus was completed in July 2003 at a cost of $300,000 of which only one third was covered by insurance.

	This is the cross just before it was raised to the top of St. Stan's.

As shown below many of Buffalo's churches no longer have the steeples that once graced their towers. But the steeple often times was also the finishing touch that was not completed until several years after a church was built. Click here to see photos of churches before the steeple.

St. Ann's on Broadway

Even without its steeples, St. Ann's on Broadway is an impressive church that towers over its neighbors. The photo on the right was taken in 1964, just prior to the dismantling of the two front steeples that were damaged in a wind storm.



Special thanks to Rich Schwegler for providing background information and photos for this page. Rich's mother attended school at St. Anne's, around 1912. The nun's would scribe lines on a small slate tablet for their writing lessons. The students did not get paper till 3rd grade. All lessons were in German till the war, then everything German was discarded. In the 1940's-50's Rich would roller skate at St. Ann's fully equipped roller rink.

Visitation in Lovejoy
This picture is from a souvenir booklet commemorating the consecration Bishop Charles Colton in 1903.
	Visitation is a combination church and school. Above is a current photo showing that the top floor and roof have been removed.

St. Stephen's on Elk Street

Picture is from Bishop Colton's 1903 consecration booklet.

St. Michael's on Washington
	St. Michael's roof and bell tower were replaced following a fire in 1962. St. Michaels is on Washington St. near the Theater District.

St. Mary Magdalene's cupolas were replaced in 1963 following a wind storm that had gusts of sixty-seven miles per hour.

Frank Schwegler standing next to one of the cupolas gives you a feel for their size.

The new cupolas, perhaps more wind resistant, are not quite as ornate as the originals. Still this church is well worth a visit. You can find it on Fillmore near Martin Luther King Park.

	Zion Dominion Church on Genesee and Hickory has spruced up the former St. Peter's Evangelical. The entire building is now painted beige matching the entranceway shown on the right. Of all the churches, I would love to see the steeples of this church restored the most. We all owe this congregation our thanks for their efforts and substantial financial investment to preserve this historic church. The picture on the left is based on one I found in the book Where Buffalo Worships (1927).
		Follow this link to the Zion Dominion Web site - www.ziondominion.org

Deliverance Temple on Sherman and Peckham streets. The former St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Each of these churches have had their steeple removed.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help	Emmanuel Temple	First Evangelical

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