Apr 15, 2026 | Architecture, News & Photos, Upcoming Events
Photo credit: Carol Yetto
Blessed Trinity’s Sacred Sites Open House
Saturday, May 16, 2026
11 AM – 3 PM
We have been part of the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Annual Statewide Sacred Sites Weekend for all of its sixteen years, and we are once again happy to welcome you to Blessed Trinity R. C. Church on Saturday, May 16.
We are a perfect fit for this year’s theme of “Holding Community Memories.” Our congregants have been holding community memories for more than a century, and we look forward to sharing them with you as part of our construction centennial celebration.
Built between 1923 and 1928, this architectural landmark was the third worship site for a working-class congregation formed in 1906. It is hard to imagine how Rev. Albert Fritton persuaded his predominantly German and Irish immigrant parishioners to fund construction of this near-perfect replication of twelfth century Lombard-Romanesque architecture but build it they did. Docents will share parish lore along with their knowledge of this awe-inspiring structure with its handmade bricks, extensive use of terra cotta, fascinating medieval iconography, and display of more than 2,000 Christian symbols—all “made in America” by local tradesmen and artisans. While highlighting recent restoration efforts, they may also include personal memories of how these upgrades were almost undone by an airborne motor vehicle.
While diocesan parish consolidation has affected every faith community, Blessed Trinity continues as an anchor in its East Buffalo neighborhood. Visit us on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 11 AM – 3 PM, and don’t forget your camera for the Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Photo Contest. Located at 317 Leroy Avenue (between Fillmore and Grider), the church is wheelchair accessible with ample off-street parking.
Mar 17, 2026 | Architecture, News & Photos, Upcoming Events
Explore Buffalo Visits Blessed Trinity
Saturday, April 11, 2026
2 – 3:30 PM
Explore Buffalo is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization with a mission of promoting Buffalo and Western New York history, architecture, and neighborhoods. On Saturday, April 11, Blessed Trinity will be their featured Sacred Sites tour.
Built between 1925 and 1928, Blessed Trinity Church is considered to be the purest replication of twelfth century Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the USA. In addition to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a NYS Historical Site and was the first architectural landmark recognized by Buffalo’s Landmark & Preservation Board in 1977.
Experienced docents will be on hand to highlight our building’s history and design and share their knowledge of its art and architecture, including its unique handmade bricks set in a style dating back to the Middle Ages, the extensive use of terra cotta in its construction, and the fantastic array of Christian symbolism found in its sculpture and artwork. Visitors will enjoy the added bonus of seeing the church decorated for Easter, the most significant feast day on the Christian calendar.
Weather permitting, the 90-minute tourism opportunity will include an interpretation of the building’s ornate facade.
Our church is wheelchair accessible, and Explore Buffalo asks that you enter through the church’s east (ramp side) door. There is ample off-street parking behind the church and adjacent to the east side door.
Click HERE to make your reservation now with Explore Buffalo.
Jul 23, 2023 | Architecture, News & Photos, Upcoming Events
Church cornerstone dedicated by Bishop Turner on August 7, 1923.
Blessed Trinity R. C. Church, a Buffalo Landmark since 1977, is observing the centennial of the laying of its cornerstone on Sunday, August 6, 2023. Rev. Robert L. Gebhard, Jr., Senior Parochial Vicar, will conclude the 10:00 AM Mass with an outdoor rededication ceremony commemorating the original dedication by Bishop William Turner on August 7, 1923. It marks the beginning of a five-year centennial observance of the building’s construction from 1923-1928.
The anniversary event will begin with the Sunday worship service including hymns accompanied by Music Director Elizabeth Bailey-Sands Clay on the church’s original 1927 Tellers-Kent organ. It concludes with a reception in the parish hall at which members of the church’s docent team will be recognized.
Long considered one of the finest examples of Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the United States, the building’s distinctive features include handmade Harvard bricks laid in a medieval fashion; extensive use of terra cotta, both structural and decorative; and more than 2000 Christian symbols displayed in its art and architecture. In addition to being the first landmark named by the City of Buffalo’s Landmark and Preservation Board in 1977, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and is recognized as a New York State Historic Site.
Jun 3, 2023 | Architecture, News & Photos
A view from the loft reveals some of our Sacred Sites visitors who remained for the closing musical presentation on May 21, 2023.
Photo credit: Margaret Dick
May 21st Sacred Sites Open House ~ Docents and greeters alike were pleased with the turnout at this year’s Sacred Sites Open House. Blessed Trinity was one of more than 100 houses of worship celebrating the New York Landmarks Conservancy‘s 50th anniversary celebration by participating in their statewide Sacred Sites Open House Weekend. We welcomed more than 50 visitors, doubling our 2022 numbers, and 27 stayed to enjoy the 3pm finale. Elizabeth Clay made a presentation on the church’s 1927 Tellers-Kent organ, and members of the choir performed a mini concert. Many thanks to docents Eleanor Ash, Tom Brodfuehrer, Elizabeth Clay, Mickey Dick, Darvan Draper, Rafael Rondon, Nancy Yager and Palma Zanghi; as well as Vera Andrew and Mary Karlis who acted as greeters.
Apr 14, 2023 | Architecture, News & Photos
Photo credit: Char Szabo-Perricelli
Blessed Trinity’s Sacred Sites Open House
Sunday, May 21, 2023
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Blessed Trinity Church celebrates the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 50th anniversary by participating in its statewide Sacred Sites Weekend. This year’s theme, Congregations and Communities, seeks to “highlight how sacred sites create community connections….” We invite the public to learn about our Landmark site and the connections our faith community has made over more than a century at an Open House on Sunday, May 21.
This year’s Open House coincides with the church’s construction centennial, its cornerstone having been laid on August 7, 1923. Members of our docent team will welcome you and share their knowledge about this “made in America” treasure considered to be the purest replication of twelfth century Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the United States. But there is more to our story than the church’s handmade bricks set in a style dating back to the Middle Ages, extensive use of terra cotta, fascinating medieval iconography and display of more than 2,000 Christian symbols. We want you to know about our faith community, its neighborhood outreach and its building preservation efforts — most recently, reconstruction of the church stairs and front plaza and repairs to its tile roof.
And no introduction to Blessed Trinity would be complete without music. The church’s original 1927 Tellers-Kent organ underwent major renovations in 2022, and the instrument will be featured in musical interludes during the Open House with a concluding performance at 3 PM.
So bring your questions about the architecture, art and history of Blessed Trinity Church, its East Side neighborhood and its welcoming congregation, and join us on Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 1-3 PM. And don’t forget your camera for the Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Photo Contest.
Located at 317 Leroy Avenue, the church is wheelchair accessible with ample off-street parking.
Feb 14, 2023 | Architecture, News & Photos
Photo Credit: Ray Ordinario – Ft. Erie, ON
Blessed Trinity Welcomes Explore Buffalo
Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m.
Click HERE to reserve your place.
Built between 1925 and 1928, Blessed Trinity Church is considered to be the purest replication of twelfth century Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the USA. In addition to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a NYS Historical Site and was the first architectural landmark recognized by Buffalo’s Landmark & Preservation Board in 1977.
Experienced docents will be on hand to highlight the building’s history and design and share their knowledge of its unique handmade bricks set in a style dating back to the Middle Ages, the extensive use of terra cotta in its construction, and the fantastic array of Christian symbolism found in its sculpture and artwork. Weather permitting, the 90-minute tourism opportunity will include an interpretation of the building’s ornate facade.
Located at 317 Leroy Avenue in Buffalo, the church is wheelchair accessible with ample off-street parking behind the church and adjacent to the east side door.
