Westminster Presbyterian Church - Table of Contents

Exterior - Westminster Presbyterian Church
724 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY
located on Millionaires' Row

Erected:

1858-59

Architect:

Harlow M. Wilcox

Master mason:

Henry Rumrill

Brick

Light "yellow" brick, likely to have come from Jesse Ketchum's native Canada

Style:

 Romanesque Revival

Windows on the Delaware, north and south walls have round arches. Pointed Gothic arches were installed on the interior when new windows were installed, 1931-1952





July 26, 2019 photo


 

July 26, 2022  photo              Spire tops the steeple               Gable roof                   End pinnacles



July 26, 2022  photo                               Spire finial



July 26, 2022  photo               Spire with copper and slate topped by finial



July 26, 2022  photo                  Detail from previous photo: copper, slates in lattice pattern



July 26, 2022  photo                  The bell from the original chapel marked A. G. Buffalo, 1850 (Adam Goode Brass and Bell Foundry on Ohio Street near Washington) was hoisted into the two hundred foot steeple in the belfry where it hangs today.

Romanesque Revival features on steeple                        Louvered belfry in third floors                   Roundel in second floor               Round (Romanesque) arched windows                Stepped buttressing                    Corbel tables



July 25, 2022  photo                 


July 15, 2022  photo                   Corbel table under gable roof                       End pinnacle topped with finial



July 26, 2019 photo             Arcade window                Stone window head             Note step buttressing at corner of building



July 26, 2022  photo                  Round Romanesque Revival stained glass window with opaslescent glass installed by Tiffany Studios


 
July 26, 2019 photo                  Compound arch surround                       Double wood carved doors with 6-light tympanum



July 26, 2022  photo          Tiffany Studios opalescent glass

           

July 26, 2022  photo          Tiffany opalescent glass


           
            
July 26, 2019  photo                  Medina sandstone sidewalk on Delaware


July 26, 2019 photo                Main entrance; double paneled doors with 6-light stained glass tympanum             Compound arch surround            Entrance flanked by buttresses



July 26, 2019 photo                    Entrance flanked by buttresses                 Compound arch surround           Double wood carved doors with 6-light tympanum



July 26, 2019  photo                  Double wood carved doors



July 26, 2022  photo               South elevation



July 26, 2022  photo              


 

North side entrance
July 26, 2019  photo                Gable roof with carved scalloped-edge vergeboard and stickwork in  tympanum                Pair of double doors with leaded glass                  Leaded glass in transom



North side entrance
July 26, 2019  photo                 Pair of double doors with leaded glass                   Leaded glass in transom







       

 Celtic Cross                    2009 photograph taken by Westminster Church historian John McClive


Celtic Cross                        2005 photograph

"We associate the Celtic Cross with St. Patrick, St. Columba and others who led missionaries bringing the Christian faith to Ireland, Scotland and northeast England in the 5th through 10th centuries. It was done peacefully, with Love, not force.

"For this reason, the Celtic Cross stands as a symbol for World Peace in today's war-torn, violent world. Those lands adopted Christianity voluntarily through persuasion and the missionaries' example of courage and conviction. Although often facing entrenched Druid priests who controlled the people through pagan religion, or hostile local chieftains who could have murdered them at any moment, missionaries showed no fear be-cause of deep faith that God would protect them.

"Their message about one God who loved all living things and wanted people to achieve the fullest measure of their lives ultimately appealed more than continued bloodshed. Jesus' parables and commandment to "Love your neighbor as yourself" resonated in the rural culture of small villages and clan loyalty.

"As monks helped the poor, people saw God's Love in action through faith and service. The Celtic world became the center of stability and learning at the same time Western Europe was in the "Dark Ages," when violence destroyed Western civilization. Newly empowered lower classes, living in a safer and less oppressive environment, were welcomed into the monasteries of Ireland, Iona and Lindesfarne where the Celtic love of language, poetry and art blossomed.

"Even though monasteries were destroyed in the 9th century by plundering Vikings, their legacy of Love influenced descendents of the attackers who eventually became Christian. Monks were able to save enough writing and religious art, such as the Book of Kells, to help modern scholars discover the timeless message of Love over violence from his advanced period in history that was largely overlooked until recent times."
- John McClive, Westminster Church historian




South entrance
July 26, 2019  photo                     More of a main entrance because most people drive to church. Although the Cloister to which this door connects was added in 1992, therefore not historical, it is used most often for visitors



South entrance              
July 26, 2019  photo


July 26, 2019 photo                Leaded glass               The glass is secured by cames (grooved bars of lead) 


 
July 26, 2019  photo             Trefoil arch






Photos and their arrangement © 2019 Chuck LaChiusa
| ...Home Page ...| ..Buffalo Architecture Index...| ..Buffalo History Index....|.. E-Mail ...| ..