St. Paul's Cathedral (Buffalo, New York)

St. Paul's Cathedral is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York and a landmark of downtown Buffalo, New York. The church sits on a triangular lot bounded by Church St., Pearl St., Erie St., and Main St. It was built in 1849-51 to a design by Richard Upjohn, and was believed by him to be his finest work. Its interior was gutted by fire in 1888, and was redesigned thereafter by Robert W. Gibson, and it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 for its architecture.

Saint Paul's Cathedral
Location139 Pearl Street, Buffalo, New York
CountryUnited States
DenominationEpiscopal
WebsiteSt. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
History
StatusParish church
Founded10 February 1817
Founder(s)Samuel Johnston
Dedicated22 October 1851
Consecrated22 October 1851
Architecture
Functional status"Active"
CompletedMay 1873
Construction costUS$160 thousand
Specifications
Height274 feet (83.5 m)
MaterialsMedina sandstone
St. Paul's Cathedral (Buffalo)
St. Paul's Cathedral, ca. 1900
LocationBuffalo, NY
Coordinates42°52′57.6″N 78°52′34.95″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1849–1851
ArchitectRichard Upjohn; Robert W. Gibson
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.73002298
87002600 (landmark designation)[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 1, 1973[1]
Designated NHLDecember 23, 1987 [2]

History

In 1848, vestrymen of St. Paul's in Buffalo formed a building committee to erect a new stone church. Being familiar with architect Richard Upjohn's work through his recently completed Trinity Church in New York City, they desired no other architect for the job, and immediately engaged Upjohn for the commission.[3]

Major structural events:;[4][5][6][7]

  • 1849: construction started.
  • 1851: the cathedral was dedicated/consecrated.
  • 1870: the spires on top of the two towers were finished.
  • 1888: a fire caused by a natural gas explosion nearly destroyed the building.
  • 1890: the church reopened after undergoing a renovation overseen by Robert W. Gibson.

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in 1973. In 1987, the property was further declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark.[2][8]

Architecture

The cathedral has an irregular plan, whose largest component is the nave. It is built out of native red sandstone with an ashlar finish. The walls of the nave are supported by buttresses crowned with Gothic finials. The main tower and entrance portal are at the southwestern end; the tower rises 275 feet (84 m), with a tall steeple topped by a cross. A small tower rises 125 feet (38 m) from the north end. The interior features floors of slate and marble mosaic, with the floor around the altar made in France. The altar is of Mexican onyx, and the chancel furnishings is of oak, all designed by Robert Gibson.[8]

  • Exterior of church, 1965
  • Interior of church, 1965
  • Exterior of church, 2009

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "St. Paul's Cathedral (Buffalo)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  3. Napora, James. "Saint Paul's Episcopal Church: 1849–1851". Retrieved 2014-09-04.
  4. "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)" (Searchable database). New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2016-04-01. Note: This includes Cornelia E. Brooke (May 1972). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: St. Paul's Cathedral" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-04-01. and Accompanying four photographs
  5. Carolyn Pitts (c. 1987). "National Register of Historic Places increase / National Historic Landmark Registration: St. Paul's Cathedral". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  6. "Accompanying four photos".
  7. LaChiusa, Chuck. "St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral". Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  8. Carolyn Pitts (n.d.), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: St. Paul's Cathedral (pdf), National Park Service and Accompanying 2 photos, from 1965 (368 KB)
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