Exploring the Beautiful Abandoned St. Matthews Catholic Church

Amidst the quaint streets of Buffalo, New York, lies the abandoned St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, a relic of bygone eras. Founded by Rev. George Sellinger in 1908, the parish witnessed the tumult of nature when an uncommon tornado razed the original structure in June 1910. Despite adversities, the resilient community rallied, erecting the nunnery, rectory, and school between 1911 and 1923, while worshipping in the basement until funds allowed the completion of the church in 1928 for $225,000. However, the echoes of worship faded into silence on March 3, 1993, marking the end of an era. Since then, the church has been a pawn in the hands of various owners. From the failed stewardship of World Wide Bible Deliverance Inc. in 1998 to the erratic ownership transitions in the 2000s, including an ill-fated attempt to list the property on eBay, the church has witnessed neglect and decay. Frank Beard’s dream of transforming the space into a community center faltered in 2011 when financial woes led to de