| Saint Paul's Cathedral | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Saint Paul's Cathedral | |
| Location | 139 Pearl Street,Buffalo, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal |
| Website | St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 10 February 1817 |
| Founder | Samuel Johnston |
| Dedicated | 22 October 1851 |
| Consecrated | 22 October 1851 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | "Active" |
| Completed | May 1873 |
| Construction cost | US$160 thousand |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 274 feet (83.5 m) |
| Materials | Medina sandstone |
St. Paul's Cathedral (Buffalo) | |
 St. Paul's Cathedral, ca. 1900 | |
   | |
| Location | Buffalo,NY |
| Coordinates | 42°52′57.6″N78°52′34.95″W / 42.882667°N 78.8763750°W /42.882667; -78.8763750 |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1849–1851 |
| Architect | Richard Upjohn;Robert W. Gibson |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002298 87002600 (landmark designation)[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1973[1] |
| Designated NHL | December 23, 1987[2] |
St. Paul's Cathedral is thecathedral of theEpiscopalDiocese of Western New York and a landmark of downtownBuffalo, New York. The church sits on a triangular lot bounded by Church St., Pearl St., Erie St., and Main St. It was built in 1849–1851 to a design byRichard Upjohn, and was believed by him to be his finest work.[citation needed] Its interior was gutted by fire in 1888, and was redesigned thereafter byRobert W. Gibson. It was designated aNational Historic Landmark in 1987 for its architecture.
The cathedral reported 220 members in 2023; no membership statistics were reported in 2024 parochial reports. Plate and pledge income for the congregation in 2024 was $176,178 with average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 53.[3]
In 1848, vestrymen of St. Paul's in Buffalo formed a building committee to erect a new stone church. Being familiar with architectRichard Upjohn's work through his recently completedTrinity Church in New York City, they desired no other architect for the job, and immediately engaged Upjohn for the commission.[4]
Major structural events:[5][6][7][8]
The building was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places asSt. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in 1973. In 1987, the property was further declared a U.S.National Historic Landmark.[2][9]
The cathedral has an irregular plan, whose largest component is the nave. It is built out of redMedina sandstone with an ashlar finish. The walls of the nave are supported by buttresses crowned with Gothic finials. The main tower and entrance portal are at the southwestern end; the tower rises 274 feet (84 m), with a tall steeple topped by a cross. A small tower rises 125 feet (38 m) from the north end. The interior features floors of slate and marble mosaic, with the floor around the altar made in France. The altar is of Mexican onyx, and the chancel furnishings is of oak, all designed by Robert Gibson.[9]
