A History of Churches and Religion in Western New York

1. A History of Churches and Religion in Western New York

2. Early WNY Religion(Protestantism) ■ Religious enthusiasm in 1799 led to several following decades with camp meetings held in several WNY locations ■ Preaching of frontier ministers: -Encouraged formation of new congregations -Caused large increases in church membership

3. The First Churches

4. ► The “Friends” of East Hamburg -Organized a “Friends Meeting” in 1806 -First Religious Organization of the county -1807- Built a meeting house -1st Church Building of any kind in Erie Co. ► Newstead Methodist Society -Organized in July 1807 -1st Methodist Organization on the Holland Purchase -2nd Religious Society in Erie Co. -12 Members -Organized by Rev. Peter Van Ness

5. Rev. Glezen Fillmore ♦ Fillmore was a Methodist from Oneida County ♦ Had a strong influence throughout WNY, beginning in 1809 when he started preaching at houses ♦In 1818, he was ordained as a Methodist Minister and appointed to a circuit comprising Buffalo & Black Rock ♦Determined to build a Methodist church -Leased a lot on Tuscarora (Franklin) St. -A church was begun in December 1818 and completed 1819

6. ▲Late 1809: -The first church was formed in Buffalo - The first church meetings were held in he Buffalo courthouse - Formed by a union of Congregationalists & Presbyterians - Rev. Thaddeus Osgood ▲ 1816: -Presbyterian Church Organized in Fiddler’s Square in Springville -Methodist & Baptist Churches formed shortly thereafter ▲ 1818: -Presbyterian Church named Cayuga Creek Church built in the town of Lancaster -First Church in Lancaster

7. St. Paul’s ● St. Paul’s was the first Episcopal Church Building in Erie County ● Built in 1820 ● In the 1820’s Church Buildings were still extremely rare anywhere in Erie County.

8. The Second Great Awakening ●The Second Great Awakening had a large impact on WNY, earning it the title of “The Burned Over District.” ● 1820’s-1830’s ● Encouraged the popularization of new denominations, especially Baptists and Methodists ●The religious revival in WNY was caused in large part by Charles Grandison Finney Charles Grandison Finney

9. ● 1827: Methodists built a church in East Aurora and soon after, churches began to spring up throughout the county. ●Result of the Second Great Awakening: 1830’s were the Church-Building-Era in Erie County. -Every few months, a new church was built ●By 1835, there were 13 churches in the City of Buffalo: -1 Baptist -1 Universalist -1 Reformed Methodist -1 Unitarian -1 German Lutheran • 1 German • Evangelical • -1 Bethel Chapel • -2 Roman • Catholic • 1 Presbyterian • 1 Congregational • 1 Methodist • 1 Episcopal

10. Catholicism

11. ●In the 18th Century, the few Catholics living in WNY kept their faith private because of persecution ●1784: Catholics began to move westward from New York City & Albany ●By 1829, Catholics had become so numerous in Buffalo that a Bishop was sent to preach & administer the sacraments of his church. 1st Catholic Priest settled in Buffalo that year. ●Estimated 700-800 Catholics in the city. There were a few Catholics in Lancaster at the time, but very few elsewhere in Erie Co.

12. ● First Catholic Church in Buffalo was called Lamb of God, later renamed to St.Louis (corner of Main & Edward) ● All Buffalo Catholics attended St. Louis’ Until 1837. The church became to small for The growing congregation. ●To alleviate the overcrowding, St. Patrick’s church wasestablished in 1841 ●WNY was still a predominantly Catholic society -Know for hostility towards Catholics & other immigrants St. Louis Church

13. Bishop John Timon ●The Diocese of Buffalo—created April 23rd 1847 ● 46,000 Catholics in the 20 counties of the diocese ● First Bishop: Bishop John Timon -Opened St. Joseph’s High School -Helped open Canisius H.S. & College -Construction of St. Michael’s Church - Helped open St. Bonaventure U. & Niagara U. - Building of St. Joseph’s Cathedral Bishop John Timon, C.M.

14. St. Joseph’s Cathedral ●Built in 1851

15. Holy Family Church (1902) ●Around 1900, Lackawanna Steel Mills attracted many people to the S. Park District ● Existing Churches were too far away ●Result: Bishop Quigley had Holy Family Church Built

16. St. Mary of Sorrows (1872) ● German Church ● Originally known as Church of the Seven Dolors ● Today occupied by Martin Luther King Urban Life Center

17. Bishop William Turner ●Bishop of Buffalo 1919-1936 ● Brought in extensive program of Catholic Charities in 1923 ● 30 new parishes established under Bishop Turner

18. St. Valentine’s (1920) ● The Old First Ward was home to many Polish Immigrants, which led to the building of St. Valentine’s

19. Our Lady of Victory Basilica/ Father Baker’s (1927) ● Best-known Church in WNY ● Begun as Father Baker’s Orphanage ● Located in Lackawanna

22. Jewish Background

23. ● 1825: Jewish Settler Mordecai Manuel Noah tried to create a homeland for Jews on Grand Island ● Most early Jewish settlers were from Germany ● Almost all Polish families moving to WNY before 1865 were Jewish Mordecai Noah

24. ● First Congregation: -Beth El Synagogue -Founded by Polish Jews -1848, Pearl St. ◀ The New Temple Beth-El -Dedicated in 1911 -Richmond Ave.

25. ● German Jews formed the first Orthodox Congregation—Beth Zion -Ellicott & Clinton Streets -1850 -Later became Reform Beth Zion First utilized Niagara St. Universalist Church as a temple

26. Temple Beth Zion 599 Delaware Avenue Used 1899 until Destroyed by fire 1961

27. Current Temple Beth Zion 805 Delaware Avenue Completed 1967