Asbury Delaware Methodist Church, Delaware Avenue and Tupper Street, 1950s.
Asbury Delaware Methodist Church, Delaware Avenue and Tupper Street, 1950s.
John Selkirk, known as Buffalo's first architect, designed the "Delaware Avenue Methodist Church" as it was
known in the 1870's, finishing in 1876. Gothic Revivial in design, it was constructed of Medina sandstone.
In 1917, the name was changed to the "Asbury Delaware Methodist Church" after a merger with the Asbury congregation.
When the above postcard photo was taken in the 1950's, the church membership was 2,000.
By 1990, membership had declined to 135 souls and the church was closed. Known as a "local landmark," but
possessing no national landmark status, it was offered for sale by the Methodist Church. Numerous parties looked at the
church, its chapel,
classrooms, offices (24,000 square feet total),
and 42-car parking lot as possible apartments, office,
retail, or gallery space. In 1992, it
was sold to a newly formed church, the "Cornerstone Life Church," which described
extensive plans for a
congregation that would organize a day-care center, soup kitchen and Bible college. The selling price
was $200,000.
2006 view looking toward the Delaware-Tupper intersection.
By 1995, the steeples began to shed stones onto Tupper and Delaware Streets, causing the city to close portions of both. For
some months there was a question about whether the steeples would be demolished by court order for public safety reasons.
Supporters of saving the entire structure eventually succeeded in holding off demolition of any part of the church. In 1999,
the owner defaulted on the mortgage and
city of Buffalo bought the church from its mortgage holder, KeyBank.
The search was on again for a buyer.
In 2001, Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records company pursued purchase of the property for re-use as the recording
company's studio and performance venue. At length, financing by the city and county combined with Righteous Babe's
investment effected the property transfer. In 2003, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
2006 view of the center's new public entrance.
The Asbury Methodist Church is known in 2006 as "The Church." It opened in May 2006 for its first performance. Ani
DiFranco and
her company, headed by
Scot Fisher who oversaw the purchase and restoration with his wife Jessie,
have invested $2.7 million in
private dollars in the restoration, interior renovation and preparation for use as a performance
venue. Additionally, Hallwalls
Contemporary Arts Center
raised $400,000 for preparation of its space in the first floor
gallery space and basement area. That
organization moved into its new home in January 2006.
For architectural information on this structure, look here.