Restoration efforts at a historic church in Buffalo's Polonia community finally received a long-awaited state preservation grant. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley says it will help pay for completed restoration work.
"Now that these grant funds have finally been released, we look forward to the next phases of restoration at Corpus Christi," said State Senator Tim Kennedy of Buffalo.
Kennedy appeared outside Corpus Christi Church on Clark Street on the city's east side Thursday. He was joined by Assembly woman Crystal Peoples-Stokes of Buffalo to say they finally convinced the state to release a $195,000 grant to the church.
"This disbursement brings closure to one more chapter of Corpus Christi renovation story, allowing them to move forward with their demanding and precise work, one of Buffalo's true architectural gems," said Peoples-Stokes.
The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation promised the funding over a year ago. The work must be complete before the funding is provided.
Jim Serafin is president of the Friends of Corpus Christi. Sarafin said that they completed first on the south tower and must now pay a contractor.
"But you must spend the money first, in other words, you actually have to deliver the product," said Serafin.
The north tower now needs repair, but another state grant has been provided, along with parish donations to pay for it. The drainage system has collapsed and the basement must be stabilized and repaired.
Corpus Christi is considered a small community with about 800-parishioners. The church stands just blocks away in the the shadows of the well-known Polish church Saint Stans.
Father Mariusz Dymek, church administrator, tells WBFO News it doesn't effect his church's popularity because they have a very "faithful" congregation in the heart of Polonia...
"Because we have so beautiful people here," said Father Dymek. "This church is so valuable, and also in the architectural style. This is not normal church. This is something beauty and divine in it."