I attended the open meeting at St. Ann’s yesterday. I found it very informative. The highlights I noted were:
- The church itself will remain 100% intact and will be the home of future concerts, religious events and architectural tours.
- The 4 floor school building will be the site for the religious artifact museum.
- The church building is currently in need of some gutter repairs and inside plaster restoration.
- The school is in need of some mold remediation on the first floor but is structurally sound.
- An anonymous donor has given a $250,000 grant to the project. All possible project expenditures are in the process of being prioritized.
- The religious artifact museum will display religious art work from all denominations.
- Negotiations are underway with the Buffalo Catholic Diocese to purchase St. Ann’s Church and school, as well as St Francis Xavier in Black Rock. The rectory remains in use and Diocese property.
These were the top noteworthy items discussed. I was impressed with the progress of the plan to date. Joe Blatz’ experience and contacts at Graycliff are instrumental in moving this project forward, but he desperately needs more volunteers and prospective board members. If you are interested in finding out more information, please visit http://www.buffaloreligiousarts.org/.
This is definitely a project that is worth the support of the public, secular and non-secular alike. All you have to do is to take one look at Transfiguration Church and you’ll realize just how important this project really is! The architecture and artistry of our churches in Buffalo rival the finest houses of worship in Europe.
