St Joseph’s Cathedral & Rectory

This church, or I should say, Cathedral, is one of the most amazing I have come across. It’s is absolutely stunning and right in downtown Buffalo near Lake Erie. It’s a must see with its gorgeous stained glass from Europe and statutes throughout. I haven’t attended a mass here yet but they offer plenty of service times and I definitely plan to sit in before leaving. I’ve heard the mass with the choir is spectacular.

This is a marvelous structure. And it has an interesting history. Ive been here for weddings and encourage you to stop in if its open.
Its a Cathedral, and was made to be the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo. Cathedrals are usually the seat of the Bishop. Buffalo had a Bishop after it was made its own Diocese in the 1840s or so. Bishop Timon was the first Bishop of the Buffalo Diocese. He had to go fundraising in Europe to gather the funds to build the Cathedral. HIs parish members were making very little money and would not have been able to raise the funds locally. After raising some funds in Europe, he came back to Buffalo and realized that he might need more money. Off he went to Mexico to connect with wealthy Catholics there.
He finally had enough money to break ground in 1851. But not enough money to finish the whole thing easily. He had to actually go to the president Millard Fillmore for a donation at one point. The Catholics who did not make enough money to donate funds donated time and skills to keep the project moving along.
The building opened in 1855. The walls and roof were up. there was still work to be done inside, and some of the windows had not yet arrived, but it was open. It was consecrated (debt free) in 1863.

The church has one of the best 19^th century organs in the country, still working today.
Bishop Timon is buried here in the basement crypt, seems fitting after spending much of his life building it.

Beautiful church. We came here for a wedding a while back and it was a fabulous venue. Brooke S.‘s tip is spot on as far as the parking being tough, especially if you are attending a big wedding but once you get inside, it will take your breath away. The whole place is gorgeous. Whether you are only in town for a wedding like us or a Buffalo, NY local, you should check this place out. What a nice church!