Westminster Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York)

The Westminster Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church located in the Delaware Avenue neighborhood of Buffalo, Erie County, New York. The Romanesque Revival building completed in 1859 features a number of exception stained glass windows and is a contributing property to the Delaware Avenue Historic District designated in 1974.[1][2]

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Westminster Presbyterian, April 2011
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York) is located in New York
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York)
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York) is located in the United States
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York)
Location724 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, New York
Built1858-1859
ArchitectHarlow W. Wilcox
Architectural styleRomanesque Revival
Added to NRHP1974

History
Buffalo, from the Spire of the Presbyterian Church in Delaware Street, from Appletons' Illustrated Hand-book of American Cities (1876)

On September 3, 1854, forty Buffalo residents, including Jesse Ketchum, founded Westminster Church just beyond what was then the northern boundary of Buffalo in Black Rock. Four years later on August 26, 1858, the cornerstone of what became the sanctuary of the church was laid and construction of the church completed the following year in 1859 at a total cost of $19,200.[3] The building which was on land donated by Ketchum replaced the original parish chapel of 1847 and was designed by Buffalo architect Harlow W. Wilcox in the Romanesque Revival style and built by master mason Henry Rumrill. The exterior of the church features light yellow brick and small arches in the cornice, reminiscent of the Lombard architecture of northern Italy and a 200-foot steeple.[4]

Renovations and restorations

In 1903, the sanctuary was renovated by Tiffany studios including replacing the church windows with opalescent Tiffany glass and changing the interior to the English Tudor Gothic style. In addition, René Théophile de Quélin stenciled Christian symbols in gold throughout including thirteen around the chancel arch, eleven in the chancel, and sixty-six on wall panels.[lower-alpha 1][3] The Parish House, resembling a Norman keep, was built in 1918 and behind the church is the restored Victorian stable originally built for the Rumsey residence.[4]

Between 1931 and 1952, the 1903 Tiffany windows were replaced by thirty-one gothic revival stained glass windows including works by four of the leading artists: William Willet of Philadelphia and Wilber H. Burnham, Charles Jay Connick, and Joseph Reynolds of Boston.[4] Only one of the original 1903 Tiffany windows remains, which is located on the east side of the church just south of the Delaware Avenue entrance and behind the original 1859 window on the outside.[6] In 1954, the Tiffany Studios-stenciled Christian symbols covered. However, in 1992, the stencils around the chancel arch and chancel were restored.[3]

In 2011, the Buffalo architectural firm of Hamilton Houston Lownie designed the West Entrance which serves to connect the campus buildings while maintaining the church's architectural integrity.[4]

See also

References
Notes
  1. René Théophile de Quélin (1854-1932) was the head artist for Tiffany Studios and worked closely with Louis C. Tiffany. Previously, he assisted Augustus Saint-Gaudens on decorative projects for the Vanderbilt mansion, as well as working with John La Farge.[5]
Sources
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on April 4, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2016. Note: This includes Cornelia E. Brooke (December 1973). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Delaware Avenue Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved May 1, 2016. and Accompanying photographs
  3. "Westminster Presbyterian Church". buffaloah.com. Buffalo Architecture and History. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  4. "About Us - Westminster Presbyterian Church". www.wpcbuffalo.org. Westminster Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  5. "René Théophile de Quélin". buffaloah.com. Buffalo Architecture and History. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  6. LaChiusa, Chuck. "Tiffany Windows - Westminster Presbyterian Church". buffaloah.com. Buffalo Architecture and History. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
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