A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
The Gothic Revival building that we know today as St. Paul’s Cathedral is actually the second incarnation of the church. The first, a wooden structure, was Buffalo’s first permanent house of worship, but it was sold and moved to another location in 1849. Today’s St. Paul’s — designed by Richard Upjohn, the architect of New York City’s Trinity Church, and consecrated in 1851 — was inspired by the 13th century churches of rural England.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The steeple of St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral rises above the sunrise. In 1866 it was chosen as the Episcopal Cathedral for the Diocese of Western New York.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The view looking out from the back of the altar in the sanctuary. The interior was restored, designed by Robert W. Gibson after the church was gutted by a natural gas explosion and fire on May 10, 1888, one of more than 40 natural-gas related fires in Buffalo that day.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window depicting scenes from the Bible at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Angels adorn the intricate woodwork of the trusses inside St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of the crest on the altar at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
St. James the Less is depicted in a stained glass window in St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
A procession begins Easter Sunday service at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Buffalo, March 27, 2016.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Jonathan Scarozza, cathedral director of music, leads the choir during Easter Sunday service at St. Paul's March 27, 2016.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of angels on the tile mosaic in the sanctuary of St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window depicting the crucifixion of Jesus.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Thaddeus is depicted in a stained glass window in St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The view looking out from the back of the altar at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The view looking up at the altar in St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of the stained glass window over the altar at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Many spires rise through the trees. The H.R. Richardson/Olmsted Complex was also made of Medina sandstone.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral's signature bell tower against the Main Place Tower across the street.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The view from above St. Paul's Cathedral at sunrise.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The stairway up the bell tower in St. Paul's Cathedral. The tower survived the disastrous 1888 fire thanks to firefighters who pumped thousands of gallons of water through the louvered windows as "slates from the sagging roof rattled down among them."
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The lower towers on the eastern side of St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral are juxtoposed with the modern facade of the Main Place Tower in the background.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral stands tall as the sun rises behind the Buffalo skyline, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral stands tall as the sun rises behind the Buffalo skyline. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in 1973.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of the statue "Homeless Jesus" outside St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The wooden pews in the sanctuary at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a tile mosaic depicting an eagle on the floor at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a tile mosaic depicting a bull on the floor at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
A tile mosaic depicts biblical symbols in the sanctuary of St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Ornately carved woodwork in the sanctuary of St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Stained glass windows depict Saints John, Bartholomew, Andrew and Matthew in St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
A stained glass window in St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window depicting scenes from the Bible at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window depicting scenes from the Bible at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of a stained glass window depicting scenes from the Bible at St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Detail of the carved marble baptistery in St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
Stained glass windows depict Saints Philip, James and Simon in St. Paul's Cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
An aerial view of the steeple looking south. The 300-foot-high spire was finished in 1870
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The altar at St. Paul's Cathedral. The church has numerous stained-glass windows that are framed by sandstone. The window over the altar, which shows Christ's ascension, was made by the Henry Holliday and Company of London.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
The Guaranty Building is framed by a sliver of open space between the steeple tower and the rest of the cathedral.
A Closer Look: St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral rises through the trees in adjacent Cathedral Park.
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