As a way to raise money to preserve St. Ann Church & Shrine, the Save St. Ann’s Church Revitalization Committee has created a new calendar for 2016. Proceeds from calendar purchases will go towards ongoing efforts to prevent the structure from being demolished.
Proponents of the 129-year old East Side landmark (651 Broadway) have been getting creative with fundraising efforts, and the calendar is just one of many ways to keep some funds rolling in since the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo closed the structure to the public in 2012.
“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, 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 calendar features breathtaking photos of the church’s ornate interior, stained glass windows, and statuary – angelic holy water fonts, detail of the sanctuary altars, nave toward the gallery – all of which remain mostly intact to this day.
Calendars are $10 each or $12 with shipping and can be ordered via the Save St. Ann’s website. Credit card or PayPal can be used online and is a $12.50 charge. Anyone who donates $100 or more will receive a free calendar.
More information on St. Ann’s Church and Shrine, including a video of the church’s history is available at www.saintannbuffalo.org. Also see Facebook.
*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.