Sacred Spaces: St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral

The present St. Paul’s Episcopal church evolved from a wooden church on the same site. The 1821 building was the first permanent church building in Buffalo. When the congregation outgrew the wooden church, a building committee was formed to erect a new church. Noted architect Richard Upjohn was chosen to design what was to become Buffalo’s first architectural landmark. Construction began in 1850.  In May of 1888, there was a gas explosion and fire that destroyed the interior of the Medina sandstone building but the stone walls remained solid. Architect Robert Gibson took charge of repairing and reconstructing the damaged building. 

The interior tour will highlight the stained glass windows. Three distinct styles of stained glass will be viewed: Gothic/Gothic revival, Munich Pastoral and Tiffany/American Opalescence.