A Catholic Church in New York has been converted into a mosque. This was done after the muslim community bought the property.
The church in question is the Church of St. Anne is based in Buffalo, New York. Reported by Newsweek from Buffalo News, Monday (12/8/2024), the church complex of St. Anne was previously sold for USD 250,000 or around Rp 3.95 billion (exchange rate Rp 15,818). This church has not been used again since 2012 due to damage to the building that threatens safety.
The property was sold to Buffalo Crescent Holdings affiliated with the Downtown Islamic Center.
The famous Catholic priest, Father Ronald Vierling, also shared information about the closure of St. Anne permanently and will be converted into a mosque.
“Church Of St. Anne, Buffalo, NY. Permanently closed. Sold to the muslim community for $250,000 which will turn the historic church into a mosque,” Vierling wrote via X, Monday (12/8/2024).
Church Of St. Anne was built in 1886 by German immigrants. According to the Buffalo as an Architectural Museum website, there are 35 stained glass windows made by German glassmakers in Munich under the direction of Franz Xavier Zettler. Window St. Ann was delivered to the U.S. in 1889 and installed in 1890.
In recent years, the condition of the church is damaged and can no longer be used by the congregation.
In 2013, Former Bishop Richard J. Malone said the church would be demolished because the cost of repairs could reach $ 12 million. However, he later said the building would not be demolished and planned to be sold.
The Downtown Islamic Center said it plans to renovate the church complex. Its cost is estimated at millions of dollars.
“We plan to donate several million dollars to this next year, just at the church alone,” Downtown Islamic Center President Talha Bakth told Buffalo News.