Unitarian Universalist Church - Table of Contents

Historic Photographs  - Unitarian and Universalist Church of Buffalo
Reprinted from
"The Old-Time Down-Town Churches" in The Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo,
Frank H. Severance, ed., Buffalo Historical Society Publications, Vol. 16, 1912

Note: A 2018 edition of the book is available for sale in the Buffalo History Museum Bookstore and on Amazon  (online March 2024)

On this page below:

• Universalist Church
• Unitarian Church

Universalist (Church of the Messiah) Universalist Church locations: 1816            Masonic festival:  Circuit riding ministry of The Reverend Stephen R. Smith 1832 -        Washington St., between South Division and Swan. 1832 cornerstone.  Original name: Church of the Messiah.  Drawing. Organized in 1831, same year as Unitarian Church. The older house was put to various business uses before final demolition.  1866-1892  554 Main Street, between Huron and Chippewa.    Church of the Messiah. Building caught fire in 1870 and rebuilt. In 1892, building leased to the H. C. Martin & Co. bicycle company. Purchased by Flint & Kent in 1894 which tore down the building and opened a new building in 1897 as Flint and Kent.  Demolished for  Fountain Plaza. 1892 -         North & Mariner.  The society name:  Universalist Church of the Messiah. 1911            Lafayette & Hoyt 1953           West Ferry at Elmwood.  Built as the First Unitarian Church.  The First Unitarian Church of Buffalo and the Universalist Church of the Messiah would merge in 1953 (nationally in 1961) and would use the First Unitarian Church at Elmwood and Ferry streets, which building was designed by two sons of the Kent store owner.  1953 name: Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo. Sources: Frank H. Severence, Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo Charles Jamieson, "History of UUBC" (online April 2024) James Napora, Houses of Worship: First Unitarian Church Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo: Church History

Universalist (Church of the Messiah) Sold.            Next congregation location: 554 Main Street: Church of the Messiah - BEFORE 1870 1866-1892.                   554 Main Street, between Huron and Chippewa.                Building caught fire in 1870 and rebuilt. Building caught fire in 1870 and rebuilt. Rebuilt Church of the Messiah on Main Street Building caught fire in 1870 and rebuilt.    In 1892, building leased to the H. C. Martin & Co. bicycle company.      Purchased by Flint & Kent in 1894 which tore down the building and opened a new building in 1897 as Flint and Kent. In 1892, building leased to the H. C. Martin & Co. bicycle company.      Purchased by Flint & Kent in 1894 which tore down the building and opened a new building in 1897 as Flint and Kent.

Unitarian Church Unitarian Church locations: 1831                Buffalo Court House where three sermons were preached 1833               110 Franklin at Eagle            Organized in 1831, same year as the Universalist Church. Millard Fillmore was a contributor who later welcomed John Quincy Adams and Abraham Lincoln as guests in his pew.    "It was enlarged in 1845 and again, after a fire in 1859.  In 1880, the society removed to a new church on Delaware above Mohawk, known as the Church of Our father ... 1906, when the society moved to a new edifice." - Frank H. Severence, Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo, p. 120, p. 135       Sold to Stephen G. Austin,  remodeled to the neoclassical design of F. W. Caulkins and then known as the AustinnBuilding.  1879              Delaware near Mohawk.   Church of Our Father.              Sold to masons.  Later demolished ?                    North at Mariner, Church of the Messiah.  Unitarians worshiped here; home of the Universalist congregation ?                    Main St., Church of the Messiah.      Unitarians worshiped here; home of the Universalist congregation                1897               Amherst at Fairfield.       Parkside Unitarian Church. 1906              West Ferry at Elmwood.  First Unitarian Church of Buffalo.    Laid foundation in 1904. The First Unitarian Church of Buffalo and the Universalist Church of the Messiah would merge in 1953 (nationally in 1961) and would use the First Unitarian Church at Elmwood and Ferry streets, which building was designed by two sons of the Kent store owner.  1953 name: Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo. Sources: Frank H. Severence, Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo Charles Jamieson, "History of UUBC" (online April 2024) James Napora, Houses of Worship: First Unitarian Church Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo: Church History

Unitarian Church  Original name: Church of Our Father, original location at 110 Franklin at Eagle Millard Fillmore was a contributor who later welcomed John Quincy Adams and Abraham Lincoln as guests in his pew.    Sold to Stephen G. Austin who remodeled the building.