By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – A local organization working to preserve religious artifacts got its own preservation boost. The Buffalo Religious Arts Center was added to the National Historic Registry.
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The former St. Francis Xavier Church was closed by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo two years ago as part of a consolidation plan. The 1850's church, along with many others in the region, faced an uncertain fate.
But the abandoned church complex was saved by a group devoted to saving it and at least parts of other abandoned churches. The church now has a new mission as a museum preserving artifacts from 24 closed churches.
Brian Castner is executive director for the center. He said their application to the National Historic Registry had to show the church was more than just a nice old building.
But Castner said the designation gives them more than historic bragging rights.
He said they can use the credential to help secure grants and foundations' support to help preserve both the buildings and the center's mission. And that's important. Castner said they are, essentially, trying to run a church without a congregation to support it.
But they are attracting a following. Castner said attendance at their weekend tours this summer was up several hundred percent over last year. Guided tours of the Buffalo Religious Arts Center are available at 1:00 every Saturday and Sunday.
More information is available at The Buffalo Religious Arts Center.