Buffalo, New York – A dramatic phase of Corpus Christi’s restoration is set for July 21. That’s when Morris Masonry, contractor for the project, will begin work on the church’s spectacular Rose Window, high above the choir loft. Weather permitting, the job is expected to take three weeks to complete.
The Rose Window is an exquisite stained glass depiction of St. Cecelia, patroness of church musicians, and the Coronation of the Blessed Mother. It is one of the largest Rose Windows in the Buffalo Diocese and may be the only one set in stone rather than the more commonly used wood framing.
The representation of the Holy Spirit in the center of the window is an exact duplicate of the one that sits above the throne of St. Peter in the Vatican Basilica. It is beyond question one of the most beautiful stained glass windows in Western New York.
In November 2007, Corpus Christi Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its magnificent art, awe-inspiring architecture and captivating history. The Rose Window is one of several signature designs that earned the church its acclaimed landmark status. That window has been a cause for growing concern since 2004, when cracks first began to appear in the stonework. However, the parish was already in the midst of an ambitious five year, $1 million Preservation Fund Campaign for critical restoration of the church’s slate roof and twin clock/bell towers, deteriorated masonry and flooring, and aging electrical system. [Read more…]
