Saint Adalbert Basilica

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Saint Adalbert Basilica. Current exterior and 1936 interior. Photos by Wikipedia and Chris Byrd

Location

208 Stanislaus Street Buffalo, NY 14212
Fillmore Council District
SBL: 101.78-1-20
Google Bird's Eye View
Erie County Property Info
County Tax Map (loads GIS page)
City of Buffalo Parcel Viewer
May also be 212 Stanislaus Street

Owner

ST ADELBERT ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SOCIETY per propertyviewer
NYS Corporation and Business Entity Database

Physical Description

Romanesque & Byzantine influenced Polish Cathedral style of church, with brick construction. Its dimensions are 240 feet long, 118 feet wide, and 70 feet high. The two towers are 150 feet high, and the dome is 40 feet wide and 125 feet above the main nave.

Current Condition

Intact and semi-operational church, fighting to remain open.

History

The parish was founded in 1886, with the current structure built by Huber and Company in 1890-1891, mostly by Polish immigrants. It was the largest church in Western New York when constructed, and cost $63,000 without the furnishings. The 36 stained glass windows of the Basilica were produced by Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, Germany. The interior was decorated by Jozef Mazur.

The school and convent were built in 1905 at a cost of $90,000. At its peak, the school educated over 1,000 students.

St. Adalbert's is one of the many Polish parishes in the Buffalo Diocese threatened by closure under a 2007 organizational plan.

Recent Events and Actions Taken

  • November 2, 2013 - Chris Byrd has organized a "Mass Mob", an invitation to everyone to attend mass in support of St. Adalbert's.
  • Early 2013 - Parish continues to fight for its survival with occasional events and masses
  • Sept 2011 - The final regularly scheduled Mass at St. Adalbert’s was to be celebrated on Sept. 18, 2011
    • marked the end of the yearlong observance of the 125th anniversary of the parish
  • Feb 2008 - Vatican's highest Canonical Court upheld Bishop Edward Kmiec's decision to close the church.
    • An appeal was made by the "Save St. Adalbert" committee, and the process was delayed
  • Nov 2007 - Last mass was scheduled for November 25, 2007, but had been put on hold pending parish appeal to the Vatican.

Other Pertinent Facts

  • Saint Adalbert's was designated America's first basilica in 1907

Links


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Added 2013-01-15 • Last changed 2013-10-23

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