A Peek at Heaven and Possibly Hell
My internet explorations bring me to many sites. Usually I am looking for some interesting twist on Buffalo. Most sites are boring or annoying. Or they might occasionally be a bit creepy. Every once in a while you find one that stops you in your tracks. That is what happened when I cam across Karl Josker's PBase photo galleries In particular his Buffalo church interiors floored me. Even though I knew Buffalo had a great heritage of church architecture I had no idea of the true grandeur that exists. Karl has posted a variety of Buffalo and other photo essays. Among them is his Buffalo Churches essay presented in this slide show with his permission.
Buffalo's collection of churches is nothing short of astonishing. It is comparable in variety of styles and quality with cities many times larger. These grand interior spaces, though public, are enjoyed individually by a relatively small number of people. Some are wealthy congregations with thousands of parishioners while others, especially Catholic parishes have small dwindling memberships struggling to keep up with the expenses of a large aging building. The Catholic Church recently announced plans to close many churches in the near future. This may spell doom to some of the magnificent edifices shown here. I do not know the fait of any one of these buildings and can only hope that some new use can be found for those that should be closed. Buffalo has had mixed results finding new uses for its unwanted churches. The most recent victory of course, is Ani DiFranco's The Church on Delaware Avenue. Others have been converted to condominiums, offices, and community centers. Many, however have suffered slow death at the hands of neglectful owners. Those meeting this fait will be stripped of valuable architectural artifacts, flipped on the real estate market to unsuspecting or ill-prepared owners, and finally left to rot away as seen in this image of the Transfiguration Church on Buffalo's East Side.
The irony in this is that as the Catholic Church closes down these masterpieces it is also building new churches both in the suburbs and in the inner city. I don't want to criticize the actions of the Church without knowing all the facts behind those kinds of actions. But, it does beg the question "why not make use of these magnificent structures before constructing what are arguably buildings that pale in comparison. With a treasure trove of architecture as rich as Buffalo's it is hard to keep up with the challenges of saving its heritage. Attacks come form all sides and the battles are many. The battle to save Buffalo's churches from destruction may be the most difficult of all but, as you can see in this slide show it may be a battle we can not afford to lose.
Last 3 images from David Torke's fixbuffalo.
My feeling is that the Church is building new structures where the majority of the people in the congregations are living, to make it more convenient for the people using the Church. It's quite possibe that it's hard enough to get people to attend services when the church is in their own neighborhoods, and even harder to get them to commute to the city on Sunday to go to services. Not to mention that churches have traditionally functioned in communities as more than just a place to go for a sermon. They also help keep neighborhoods together by prividing many services to the communtiy. So if the majority of the people live in the suburbs (a truth I hate to admit), then it makes sense that the church's structures are out there too.
Obviously, it would be best to maintain these churches as is, and preverve the ornate details of the original structures. But I have to say that I love the creative reuses of these building we have seen around the city. The Bryant Street condos on Richmond and Bryant are amazing. Ani DiFranco's (and Hallwalls) reuse of "The Church" on Delaware and West Tupper is cool too. I am thrilled to hear that the church on South Elmwood and Edward Street is going to be converted into a residential development as well. At least these buildings will remain a vibrant part of the city's fabric, even if the powers-that-be have decided to turn their backs on these architectural gems.
How about a (bus) Tour of Churches? Part of the proceeds could go to the churches to help defray maintenance costs. This could be a very interesting component of Buffalo's emergence as an architectural destination.
I have always felt connected to these buildings, even though I am pretty much an athiest, or a secular humanist at the most. I was blessed with 13yrs of catholic education and daily masses though.
The architecture just stops me in my tracks. the beauty and soul that was put into those buildings can be felt by just being in thier presence. One can almost feel the love instilled through the volunteer services and tools from trade workers and extra donated money from those who were part of the congregation oh so long ago. It seems a crime to let them slip to nothing, through respect fot that alone. And unlike the BCT, I'd figure their continued existance would be further guaranteed through religous and family ties.
If anything, I'd figure a religion, most of which involve/teach service to the poor, would keep these parishes viable by not opening anymore and having the portion of thier congregation that can afford to drive, attend there. I'd figure a congregation would make the drive that poorer people in city cannot, to interact with them. To show they are not forgotten, spread their "word" through hand-to-hand weekly actions. To overall just serve the poor and needy by not just being right there with them, but being one through religion. Neighborhood cleanups around the parishes, and even low cost home building/renovation for less fortunite fellow parishoners right in the neighborhood. Thus, choosing to maybe live thier lives somewhere else (we can't all be saints), but at least spending thier time and religious money where it is theoretically most needed. I guess the lack of seeing this is partially responsible for nullifying those 13yrs of religious instruction.
I guess in the end we are all human and most just accept/rationalize it. We go to services once in a while, that should be enough, right? It shouldn't be a burden to us. Who's to say that the prophets and gods who have supposidly visited this world did not do most of thier work in the best parts of town and just throw some money in a collection for the poor every so often while composing thier handbooks on living?
P.S. To the minority that do all the above, you have my uptmost respect, and I offer some of my mother's wisdom: "Someday you'll be rewarded in heaven.", or what ever it is your religion offers you in your afterlife.
Thanks MJ
Karl has done an outstanding job in photo documenting the City. He inspired my to get out and take a closer look at my own neighborhood and start documenting the built environment, too.
MJ...
Tour's are cool. I've organized one thru PresCo that's now scheduled for the summer time. It's by bike! Here's that link: http://tinyurl.com/qd34z
Steel grabbed a few pics here for his post...there are more here on my flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/fixbuffalo/sets/
My favorite that sums up the decline and speaks to the various "Catholic Complexes" that dot the East Side is this pic: http://tinyurl.com/m3a4p - The Church of Golden Arch!
Great posting Steel, as usual...
That certainly was a call to arms! It is going to be a herculean task finding new uses for the treasures that make the latest closure list. Don't be afraid to criticize the Diocese, the new churches may be more efficient to run, but they should be held accountable for the churches they leave behind.
Simply put...Buffalo has the best religious architecture in the country. The fact that these churches were built to serve for hundreds if not for thousands of years is a testament to our forefathers comiitment to their faiths. And also the fact that we, as their children and grandchildren choose to favor convience rather the enlightenment, shows how far our priorities are out of wack! We hold in our back yards these gems that other diocese would love to call their own...yet we take them for granted, we let them change hands, and we let them crumble. It is not easy to maintain these magnificant buidlings, nor was it easy to build them, but in that is the point! because nothing worth while is easy!
Every suburban parish should "adopt" an urban counterpart and expose their congregations to their roots. I am telling you, we have world class architecture here! use it...celebrate it!
Seems like this article should be reposted since the Buffalo News published the 27 churches in the central city which are going to have to be consolidated into 19 or less!
Which will survive?
Which have re-use?
Are there any protestant denominations interested in taking over the closing catholic churches?
What will happen to the surrounding community when a church that once ankered it is closed and allowed to fall into decay as it has been on so many other sections of the city.
The decline of the real estate that belongs to the Diocese of Buffalo is heartbreaking to many besides Catholics. The property owners who adjoin the churches are hurting, preservationists and students of architecture are hurting, the descendants of the skilled craftsmen who built these edifices are hurting, and the bodies of the departed parishioners are corkscrewing in their graves.
Churches, Downtown Buildings, the Central Terminal, seems like the whole city is just crumbling, and the positive efforts of the rehabilitators are like a finger in the dyke. If given the proper impetus, developers could save these buildings, and for the ones too far gone, the property could be re-developed.
Where would one start? The Diocese needs to get started on this.