St. Joseph Cathedral (Buffalo, New York) | Gothic revival (architecture), 1860s construction, Roman Catholic church

 cathedral, Gothic revival (architecture), 1860s construction, Roman Catholic church

Designed by Patrick S. Keeley in a Gothic Revival style, ground for St. Joseph Cathedral was broken in 1851 and after four years construction the Cathedral was completed and consecrated in 1855. Featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaulting and elaborate ornamentation, the Cathedral reflects the character of the 13th-century Salisbury Cathedral in England, with elements of French and German Gothic Cathedrals also present. Originally planned to have two bell towers, only one was installed in 1862 as the Civil War placed a premium on building supplies. Equipped with a 43-bell carillon, which at the time was the largest in America and the third largest in the world, the Cathedral was also equipped with a 3,627-pipe organ.

Becoming the seat for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo shortly after its completion, St. Joseph served as the seat for the Diocese Bishop until 1912, when a new Cathedral constructed on the corner of Delaware Avenue and Utica St. took up the role held by St. Joseph. Numerous problems with the replacement Cathedral saw the return of the Bishop in 1977 to St. Joseph, and since that time it has remained as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

www.buffalodiocese.org/Chancery/StJosephCathedral.aspx