St. Joseph's Cathedral - Buffalo, NY
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 42° 52.961 W 078° 52.668
17T E 673308 N 4749971
Quick Description: St. Joseph's Cathedral is one of two cathedrals remaining in the City of Buffalo.
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 5/16/2007 5:38:40 PM
Waymark Code: WM1J4W
Views: 179
Long Description:
When the first bishop of Buffalo, John Timon, came to Western New
York in 1847, Catholics made-up less than 30% of the city's
population, worshipping in small congregations scattered across the
city and outlying towns. Timon traveled abroad, seeking and
receiving financial assistance and gifts-in-kind from Pope Pius IX,
European kings, and the religious faithful of many countries in
order to build a cathedral for his diocese.
Bishop Timon himself negotiated the gift of the great sanctuary
windows, given by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The windows won first
prize at the Munich Exposition of 1854 in an exhibit sponsored by
the king. Illustrating the birth, death, and resurrection of
Christ, these were the first illustrated windows to be installed in
the cathedral. Their rich and poignant imagery was especially
important for the many uneducated people who came here to worship.
On the advice of Pope Pius IX, the cathedral was dedicated to St.
Joseph.
Four years passed from the groundbreaking for the cathedral in 1851
to its dedication in 1855, when more than 3,000 people gathered in
the midst of a torrential rainstorm. By 1863, the diocese had
cleared its books of the $150,000 spent to build the cathedral.
Free of debt, it could now be consecrated. Bishop Timon presided
over the ceremony, assisted by seven bishops and attended by
hundreds of priests and thousands of lay people.
In 1912, a new church north of downtown Buffalo was planned for
designation as the cathedral for the diocese by Bishop Charles E.
Colton. Plagued by serious flaws in design and construction, the
New Cathedral was finally abandoned and demolished in 1977, at
which time St. Joseph's Cathedral regained its status as the
bishop's church.
Source: Buffalo Architectural Museum website
Address:
50 Franklin St
Buffalo, NY 14202
Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic
Date founded or constructed: 01/01/1855
Web site: [Web Link]
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