New York State Historic Register

by William Koch

Recently the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation officially recognized the significant role St. Francis Xavier Church, School and Rectory have played in the Black Rock community by placing the three structures on the State Register of Historic Sites.
Daniel McEneny, Historic Preservation Program Specialist for the New York State Historic Preservation Office stated that the former St. Francis Xavier Church was enthusiastically accepted by the New York State review board and will be forwarded to the National Parks Service in the coming weeks.

Shortly after closing, the church complex took on a new life as the center piece of the Buffalo Religious Arts Center. The goal of the arts group is to display works of art from closed Buffalo churches and to raise the awareness of the significant religious heritage of our community through displays, tours of the community’s houses of worship and many other events.