Corpus Christi R. C. Church Complex

Corpus Christi (Church)
Location	199 Clark Street, Buffalo, New York
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Corpus Christi Church
History
Founded	1898
Founder(s)	Hyacinth Fudzinski
Dedicated	1907
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	"Active"
Completed	June 13, 1909 (church)
Construction cost	US$200 thousand
Specifications
Capacity	1,650
Length	170 feet (51.8 m)
Width	90 feet (27.4 m)
Materials	Onondaga limestone faced with Medina sandstone

Corpus Christi R.C. Church Complex
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Corpus Christi R.C. Church, March 2009
Location:	199 Clark St., Buffalo, New York
Coordinates:	42°53′29″N 78°50′10″W / 42.89139°N 78.83611°W / 42.89139; -78.83611Coordinates: 42°53′29″N 78°50′10″W / 42.89139°N 78.83611°W / 42.89139; -78.83611
Area:	2.4 acres (0.97 ha)
Built:	1900
Architect:	Schmill and Gould
Architectural style:	Romanesque
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	07000630[1]
Added to NRHP:	June 27, 2007

The Corpus Christi R.C. Church Complex is a series of several buildings located on Buffalo's historic East Side. The complex contains the Kolbe Center, Sears Street Hall, Rectory, Convent and the huge sandstone church that towers over the neighborhood. The complex school was closed in 1982 and has been razed.

History

The Church was founded by the Franciscans to serve the religious needs of the growing Polish community of the East Side. The church community grew in the early 20th century as immigrants poured into the neighborhood.^[2] The church has suffered the problems that have plagued other inner-city churches across America the past 30 years. As parishioners moved to the suburbs, the Church became increasingly empty during masses and the school was closed in the early 1980s.

Present day

In June 2003, the Franciscan Friars decided that they could no longer administer to the community due to financial and other concerns. This announcement led to the creation of a committee named "The Friends of Corpus Christi", who sought to find another order to lead the faithful. This search yielded results when the Pauline Fathers agreed to take over the Church property and continue the rich heritage. The Paulines currently have two priests and one brother administering to the parish community. The current Pastor is Fr. Anselm Chalupka.^[3]

The Complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.^[1]

Gallery

• 

  side view

• 

  convent

• 

  rectory

• 

  plaque to the right of the front entrance

• 

  sign to the left of the front entrance

• 
• 

  scaffolding for renovation (May 2011)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ Claire L. Ross (December 2006). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Corpus Christi R. C. Church Complex". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=102011. Retrieved 2009-12-24.  See also: "Accompanying eight photos". http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=102012. 
3. ^ Corpus Christi Church. "History". http://corpuschristibuffalo.org/site/?page_id=8. Retrieved 2011-05-01. 

External links

• The Online Voice of Buffalo's Historic Polonia
• City of Buffalo Preservation Board Survey CBCA PN 03-010 (see page 5-12 & 5-13)
• Buffalo As History Church Info
• Old photos of the complex