Holy Family Church   - Table of Contents

EXTERIOR - Holy Family RC Church
Our Lady of Charity Parish
1885 South Park Avenue, Buffalo NY

Research by Maureen P. Evans

Former property:
William J. Conners, Sr. house and barn (photo below)
Church built:
1905-1908 at a cost of $200,000.
Architects:
Lansing & Beierl
Style:
Romanesque Revival

Photos taken March 30, 2021
Facade


Romanesque Revival  style is characterized by rounded arches and windows    ...    Details below, from the top down:


Copper cross finial  atop octagonal roof   ...    Terra cotta roof tiles    ...     Onondaga limestone     ...    Modillions and corbel table support the two cornices on the belfry



Terra cotta roof tiles



Center bay, left: Modillions support gable roof    ...    Compound arch hoodmold
...
Tower, right:  Corbel table supports the  cornice below the belfry



Center bay, left: Modillions support gable roof    ...    Compound arch hoodmold  over the stained glass wheel window

   

Compound arch hoodmold  over the stained glass wheel window



Triple portal main entrance


Cushion capital decorated with acanthus leaves and Celtic knot



Two-sided cornerstone placed by Bishop Charles Colton on November 5, 1905   ...    Colton dedicated the entire building on November 9, 1908    ...    Note two crosses pattée




West and north elevations






South elevation


From left: South transept  features three large stained glass windows above three smaller windows    ...    Four aisle stained glass windows    ...    Two bell towers    ....    Details below, from the left:


West elevation  at left features a rounded apse where the main altar is located    ...    In Europe, the apse is usually located on the eastern side of the church, symbolically pointing to Jerusalem    ...   
South transept  features three large stained glass windows above three smaller windows (all of which depict female saints)  



Apse and transept



Left:  Transept    ...    Center: Four aisle windows    ...   Right: South bell tower    ...    Two details below:






Twp cornices supported by modillions    ...    Vertical pier buttresses flank round Romanesque stained glass window    ...    In early 11th-12th century Romanesque style churches, windows were much smaller than this size    ...    Decorative keystone in the middle of a stringcourse   ...    Stone sill    ...    Tracery  defines the arcade window



Tower



Tower entrance    ...    Gable-shaped hoodmold above compound arch hoodmold    ...    Detail below:


Abacus:   Celtic knot   ...    Crosses pattée
Corinthian capitalAcanthus leaves   ...   Volutes    ...     Fleurons




Church and rectory


William J. Conners house, barn and greenhouse    ...    Purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo for Holy Family Church in 1902 for $20,000.
During July and August, Rev. John J. Nash held services in the spacious home while the barn was renovated for a church    ...
Photo courtesy of Steve Cichon's Buffalo Stories



Earlier house and barn razed for current 1908 church and rectory    ...    Rectory designed by  
Max G. Beierl


Street corner in front of the church paved with Celtic knots as a nod to the historical importance of the Celtic-designed art in the church



  


Kudos to former pastor Bryan Zieleniesk for his support of the restoration project.
Special thanks to historian Maureen P. Evans for her cooperation and assistance in 2021.


Photos and their arrangement © 2021 Chuck LaChiusa
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