A Closer Look: St. Louis Catholic Church
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
Completed in 1889 after a fire destroyed the previous church, St. Louis Catholic Church is one of the largest in the Buffalo Diocese. Its grand tower rises 245 feet making it the highest open-laced spire in the country. Take a closer look inside with Buffalo News Chief Photographer Derek Gee.
Towering
St. Louis Catholic Church with the Buffalo Medical Campus in the background.
245 feet tall
An aerial view of St. Louis Catholic Church.
Sanctuary
The interior of St. Louis Catholic Church.
Namesake
A life-size statue of St. Louis by sculptor Joseph Sibbel stands in the high altar at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Intricate carvings
The intricate pulpit at St. Louis Catholic Church was carved by Leopold Schneggenberger.
Arches
Rows of arches in the sanctuary of St. Louis Catholic Church.
Sacred Heart
The ornately carved side altar at St. Louis Catholic Church features the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Stained glass detail
Detail of a stained glass window in St. Louis Catholic Church.
Stories come to life
A depiction of Jesus appearing to St. Paul the Apostle in stained glass at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Kimball organ
The pipes of the Kimball organ, built in 1903, in St. Louis Catholic Church.
Altar
The altar at St. Louis Catholic Church features a life-size statue of St. Louis by sculptor Joseph Sibbel.
St. Louis
A life-size statue of St. Louis by sculptor Joseph Sibbel stands in the high altar at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Mosaic
Detail of a mosaic on the altar of St. Louis Catholic Church.
St. Francis of Assisi
The statue of St. Francis of Assisi at St. Louis Catholic Church was carved from a single block of wood by local sculptor Heinrich Schmitt.
St. Anthony of Padua
The statue of St. Anthony of Padua at St. Louis Catholic Church was carved from a single block of wood by local sculptor Heinrich Schmitt.
Rows of pews
Detail of the pews at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Eagle-eyed detail
A carving of an eagle in the intricate raised pulpit in St. Louis Catholic Church.
Veronica
One of the Stations of the Cross at St. Louis Catholic Church is a depiction of Veronica wiping the face of Jesus.
Pipe organ
The pipes of the Kimball organ, built in 1903, in St. Louis Catholic Church.
Choir loft view
A view from the choir loft inside St. Louis Catholic Church.
St. Boniface
A depiction of St. Boniface in stained glass inside St. Louis Catholic Church.
St. Augustine
A depiction of St. Augustine in stained glass inside St. Louis Catholic Church.
Buffalo-made
Detail of the Riester & Frohe signature dated 1894 on the stained glass at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Framing the Immaculate Heart
Converging arches lead the eye toward the side altar featuring the Immaculate Heart of Mary sculpture in St. Louis Catholic Church.
Tower stairs
A curved staircase leads up the tower at St. Louis Catholic Church, Thursday.
Collection baskets
Collection baskets hang in a vestibule inside St. Louis Catholic Church.
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Detail of the Sacred Heart of Jesus sculpture on one of the side altars at St. Louis Catholic Church.
On the cross
Detail of one of the Stations of the Cross at St. Louis Catholic Church.
St. Peter
A stained glass window depicts the conferral of the keys on St. Peter, a common scene in churches of the era, inside St. Louis Catholic Church.
'Burning Truth'
Detail of a stained glass window inside St. Louis Catholic Church depicts the dog of St. Dominic carrying a burning torch representing the "Burning Truth."
Stations of the Cross
One of the Stations of the Cross inside St. Louis Catholic Church.
Colored light
Detail of a stained glass window in St. Louis Catholic Church.
Detail in glass
Detail of a stained glass window in St. Louis Catholic Church.
Top of the dome
Detail of the dome above the sanctuary at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Sanctuary view
The interior of St. Louis Catholic Church.
Open-laced spire
An aerial view of St. Louis Catholic Church on Monday March 26, 2018.
Rising above
The 245-foot tower at St. Louis Catholic Church is reported to be the tallest open-laced spire in the country.
'Keep Buffalo a Secret'
St. Louis Catholic Church stands as a beacon on the northern edge of downtown, just down Main Street from the mural "Keep Buffalo A Secret" by artist Ian de Beer and Oxford Pennant, just before sunrise in January 2020.
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…