It is alway sad to see a beautiful church building go empty. In the case of these 10 buildings they have been completely abandoned; sometimes for decades and centuries.
5. Saint Boniface Church, Chicago, IL
Founded: 1862
Original Site: Corner of Chicago Av. & Carpenter St.
Address: 1358 W. Chestnut Street
Erected: 1902-1904
Seating: 900
Architect: Henry J. Schlacks
Style: Romanesque
Bell Towers: Four
Original Construction Cost: $110,000.00
Dedicated: June 5th, 1904
Closed: June 3rd, 1990
Currently Status of the building:
A Building Court hearing regarding the Saint Boniface church and adjoining property was held on July 29th. At this hearing it was made public that a demolition permit was formally requested by Carefree Development LLC through Ogden Partners.
Carefree told saintbonifaceinfo that the demolition permit was requested so as to prevent the court from entering a default judgment and ordering the property be delivered to a court appointed receiver for demolition. Their application for demolition, Carefree states, serves to delay the demolition of the church and gives them time to negotiate the final acquisition of the property and thereof the development of market rate for sale family housing.
Pictures of Current St Boniface
4. Saint Bonaventure Church, Philadelphia, PA
Founded: 1889
Address: 9th & Cambria Streets
Erected: 1902-1904
Dedicated: 1906
Seating: 500-700
Style: Romanesque
Original Construction Cost: $?
Closed: 2013
Currently Status of the building:
The city ordered the demolition because it was no longer safe, having been abandoned since ’93. The repair of the building to make it safe to use would have costed over 100K. The city opted to demo the building. Fortunately for us, a wonderful photographer captured the inside of the building mid-demolition.
Pictures of Current St Bonaventure
cathedral demolition by abandonedamerica on photosynth
3. Tintern Abbey, Wales, UK
Founded: 1131
Erected: 12th Century
Dedicated: ?
Style: Fatimid/pre-gothic
Bell Towers: None
Original Construction Cost: On-going via village
Closed: 1536
Current status of the building:
The building has been in ruin for hundreds of years. It’s been desolate longer than the USA has been a nation. No plans for renovations exist.
Pictures of current Tintern Abbey
2. Church of Transfiguration, Buffalo, NY
Founded: 1890
Original Site: Corner of Chicago Av. & Carpenter St.
Address: 1358 W. Chestnut Street
Architect: Henry J. Schlacks
Style: Romanesque
Original Construction Cost: $76,000.00
Dedicated: 1897
Closed: 1991
The new church building that still stands today was constructed in Gothic-revival style at a cost of $76,000 and completed in 1897, and featured an 180-foot tall bell tower. The school building was rebuilt in 1914.
A dwindling number of parishioners led to the decision to close the school building in 1985; the church would eventually be shuttered in 1991 along with three other East Side churches after a vitality study performed by the diocese. The local parish ceased to exist in 1993, and all sacramental registers were transferred to the Diocesan Archives. [Source]
Current status of the building:
A permit to demolish the church was obtained in 1994 by the diocese, but was instead sold to Paul Francis Associates for $7,000 with a promise to restore the building. A $100,000 community block grant was obtained, but only a quarter of the money was allocated to the restoration of the church as money was diverted to other projects. The subsequent owner of the building let the structure deteriorate until 2007, when some repairs were made to the roof and protecting the stained glass. [Source]
Pictures of Current Transfiguration
1. San Martin de Tours, Belchite, Spain
Founded: 12th Century
Erected: 12th Century
Dedicated: ?
Style: Fatimid/pre-gothic
Bell Towers: None
Original Construction Cost: On-going via village
Closed: Unknown. Was mostly destroyed in 1800s
Current status of the building:
The ruins of the old village are open to the public and although certain areas (where risk of a collapsing building etc exists) are roped off the remainder is open to the countryside and the visitor can walk freely amongst the bullet scared buildings, shell shattered structural ruins and visit the hollowed out village church. [Source]
