Buffalo’s 129-year-old architectural marvel is featured in 2016 calendars to raise funds and awareness for the Save St. Ann’s Church Revitalization Committee.
The annal is both a calendar and arts pictorial, with full color photographs of the ornate interior, stained glass windows and statuary that remain preserved within the church and shrine. The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has closed the structure to the public since 2012.
The organization is seeking ways to prevent the structure from being demolished with the calendar making the public aware of the significance of this house of worship.
Calendars are $10 each or $12 with shipping and can be ordered via the Save St. Ann’s website at www.saintannbuffalo.org. Credit cards or PayPal can be used online for a $12.50 charge. Anyone who donates $100 or more will receive a free calendar.
“This calendar shows the enormous pride of the people who built this unique church well over a century ago,” explains Ron Bates of the Save St. Ann’s Church & Shrine organization. “The stained glass was fabricated by the famed Bavarian Art Works in Munich, and the woodwork was all created by hand and it is breathtaking! We have pictures of these works of art and more in our calendar.”
The pictures from the 2016 calendar include the angelic holy water fonts, detail of the sanctuary altars, nave toward the gallery, and close-ups of the stations of the cross depicting Jesus meeting the sorrowing woman, and many more.
St. Ann is the only United States church that is connected with the original St. Anne de-Baupre Archconfraternity, established in Montreal, Quebec. It is a shrine to St. Ann and one of few parishes built solely by the hand of its parishioners, common German immigrants who built the East Side landmark. The main tower rises over 12 stories and contains the largest swinging bell in Buffalo.
The children’s book, Santa is Coming to Buffalo, highlights the St. Ann’s bells that guide the jolly elf and his team of reindeer. It will also be available in many bookstores this holiday season.
More information on St. Ann’s Church and Shrine, including a video of the church’s history, is available at www.saintannbuffalo.org.