Built between 1869 and 1905, Trinity Episcopal Church is historically and architecturally a distinguished religious complex reflecting the growth of a major American city and new developments in the areas of art and architecture in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Trinity is a local landmark, and is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The church complex is nationally significant as the site of a seminal program of opalescent glass and interior decoration by American master John La Farge. His work in Trinity’s new church had national exposure and acclaim that came at a crucial time in the artist’s career and reintroduced the artist as a national leader in the expressive use of layered and intricately leaded art glass. One of La Farge’s later Trinity Church windows was displayed at an international exposition that reinforced the American role in reviving the European stained-glass window industry.
Begun in 1869 with the construction of the Gothic Revival-style Christ Chapel, the complex became best known for its larger, more prominent Victorian Gothic Church built between 1884 and 1886. The chapel was designed by Arthur Gilman and the 1886 church was a reworking of Gilman’s earlier plans by Buffalo architect Cyrus Porter. John La Farge produced an ambitious program of opalescent glass and interior decoration for the new church executed between 1885 and 1886. Four additional windows were produced by La Farge along with five by Tiffany Studios and others by William Gibson, Hardman and Company, and Mayer Studios of Munich installed between 1887 and 1897. The result was a church that evolved into an exceptional example of Victorian taste in art and architecture at the hands of several of the period’s finest designers. Following the trend of employing top designers, the 1905 parish house was the work of the nationally prominent firm of Cram, Goodhue, and Ferguson. Bertram Goodhue returned to Buffalo in 1913 to redesign the interior of the 1869 chapel in a combination of Gothic medieval designs based on Anglo-catholic traditions and the Arts and Crafts movement. The rare combination of extraordinary talents produced a complex of buildings that resulted in a distinctive ensemble of art and architecture of remarkable quality and unity.
One of the most striking features of Trinity church is the intensity of color in the windows. This is the hallmark of opalescent glass, invented by John Lafarge and refined by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the late 1800s. Trinity is unique in that it has masterpieces of both of these artists who brought about an artistic and technical revolution in the art of stained glass making. Instead of painting on glass, as had been done for centuries, the color in opalescent glass comes from within through the addition of chemicals while still in its molten state. It is then manipulated to alter its thickness and surface. The folds and ripples in the glass along with the layering of multiple pieces, leaded together, give depth to the design.
The Tiffany windows contain the rich colors and window textures characteristic of Tiffany Studios achieved through manipulating glass and plating. The rest of the windows follow the more traditional flashed glass process of painting on glass and are more two-dimensional than the accompanying La Farge and Tiffany Windows.
In addition to the glass work, La Farge also decorated the ceiling and walls of the chancel. In late March 1886, La Farge’s artists erected scaffolding and staging in the nearly completed chancel. The work began on April 1st and took approximately one week to complete. La Farge chose an ornamental design that was more geometric rather than scenic to complement the chancel windows rather than overshadow the glass. The ornamental designs were painted directly on the plaster ceiling and walls with encaustic paints specially formulated and normally used by La Farge. The area around the windows consisted of rectangular forms painted in green tones. The same green tones were carried into the vaulted ceiling and walls but overlaid with gilt scrollwork.*
The church doors are open most weekdays (in addition to Sundays for services) and you can usually go in and look around. There is also a brochure available, for a small donation, that contains a "map" of all the windows and their descriptions and history. You can also call 716-852-8314 ext. 10 to arrange for a guided tour of the windows.
Interesting fact: The architects planned on a tall steeple on the square base at the northwest corner of the church. Money was raised for the project but the steeple was never constructed. By a vote of the congregation at the time, the money was instead donated to the poor.
*Historical construction details excerpted from website at http://www.buffalotrinity.com
This cache is placed with permission, but please don't search in the courtyard. They prefer the caching be done out front.
Now on to the cache…. You are looking for a small plastic container. The lid is hinged, so please don't pull it off. No need to search in the courtyard; it's out front and should be easy to find. There is a brand spankin' new dollar for the FTF. Please replace exactly as found... It must be wedged in securely or it will fall off. If you time your caching right and visit when the doors are open, you can go in and check out the magnificent windows, but please be respectful if services are going on. The windows are well worth your time.