A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
Located in Buffalo’s Central Park neighborhood, Blessed Trinity was completed in 1928 and is considered one of the best examples in the U.S. of the Lombard Romanesque architectural style of 12th century Northern Italy. Blessed Trinity’s elaborate and extensive terra-cotta touches, both inside and out, display thousands of Christian symbols. Other distinctive exterior features include a Spanish tile roof and handmade Harvard bricks of varying shapes and sizes set in dizzying patterns. A Buffalo landmark since 1977, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. — Jay Tokasz, News staff reporter
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church is considered an outstanding example of 12th century Lombard-Romanesque architecture.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church was dedicated in 1928. The common building material used on the windows, doorways, floors, columns and arches of the interior is terra cotta.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
More than 2,000 symbols and pictures are spread throughout the building, the largest number of them appearing in the terracotta. Detail of the intricate terra cotta artwork at the entrance.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The view looking up to the dome at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church on Leroy.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The stained glass window above the organ in Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the stained glass above the altar at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Harvard brick - a technique used to create brickwork that resembles much older brickwork - was used in Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. The bricks were made by descendants of French brickmakers in Exeter, N.H., and used by laborers specially trained in the technique to make walls that are 2 feet thick in some places.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The Rev. Thomas Plassmann, president of St. Bonaventure College at the time, was asked to create a comprehensive plan for the symbols of the church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the coffers above the altar.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A wooden carving of David above a confessional.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the altar railing.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The side aisles in the sanctuary are covered by arches.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of some of the thousands of symbols that are used throughout Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
St. Joseph on a side altar.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta figure at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A mural of St. Francis Xavier on the ceiling.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta figure at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A terra cotta figure.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The astrological symbol for Scorpio is depicted in a terra cotta tile on the floor.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The walkway beneath the arches on the side of the sanctuary at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Biblical scenes, including the Nativity shown here, are depicted in terra cotta in the transoms above the doorways.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the mural in the dome over the sanctuary in Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, painted by Joseph Maser.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Biblical scenes are depicted in terra cotta in the transoms above the doorways.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the mural in the dome over the sanctuary.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta figure amid the coffers on the ceiling.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta figure in Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta figure.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the terra cotta adornments.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A cherubic face amid the intricate terra cotta adornments.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A carved angel on a pew at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The original Tellers-Kent pipe organ at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the mural in the dome over the sanctuary.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A mural depicting St. Luke.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the mural on the ceiling.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a carved angel on a pew.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The dome over Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Paintings depict the stations of the cross at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the terra cotta adornments that cover almost every square inch of the sanctuary.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A mural depicting St. Ioannis on the ceiling.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A stained glass depiction of St. Aloysius.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A mural depicts the Blessed Mother in the eastern archway at Blessed Trinity.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Biblical scenes are depicted in terra cotta in the transoms above the doorways.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A terra cotta depiction of the Last Supper.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Paintings depict the stations of the cross.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
The wood carvings above the confessionals by the Lippich brothers from Bowmansville in the 1920s depict notorious sinners such as Peter.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the coffers on the ceiling of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the St. John Vianney statue on the altar.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A statue of St. Theresa on a side altar.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A carved angel on a pew.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A terra cotta figure.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the terra cotta floor tiles.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta adornment.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A mural of St. Peter Claver.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
One of four murals depicting the four purposes of prayer.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A painting of St. Marcus.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A carved angel on a pew.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of some of the hundreds of terra cotta symbols on the exterior of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the intricate terra cotta artwork at the entrance.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of terra cotta artwork on the arched entrance.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta angel on the exterior.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of an intricate stained glass window on the exterior of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta symbol on the exterior.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of a terra cotta symbol on the exterior.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of some of the thousands of symbols used throughout Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of an intricate circular stained glass window on the exterior.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Intricate terra cotta details on the transom blend with the Harvard bricks that make up the facade of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the intricate terra cotta artwork at the entrance.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
A terra cotta panel depicts Noah's ark on a window.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Terra cotta details on the exterior.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the intricate terra cotta artwork at the entrance.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the intricate terra cotta artwork at the entrance.
A Closer Look: Blessed Trinity Church
Detail of the intricate terra cotta artwork at the entrance.
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