New York’s Historic St. Ann Church Set for Conversion Into Mosque

A historic Catholic church in Buffalo, New York, has attracted international attention after its property was purchased by a group affiliated with a local Muslim organization with plans to develop the complex into an Islamic center that would include a mosque.

The building in question is the former St. Ann Church and Shrine, located at 651 Broadway in Buffalo. The church was completed in 1886, making the structure around 140 years old in 2026. Some reports and social-media posts have described it as a 139-year-old church, but the documented construction date is 1886.

Church Sold for $250,000

The Diocese of Buffalo sold the former St. Ann property in November 2022 to Buffalo Crescent Holdings Inc. for $250,000. The sale included the former church, school and convent. According to the Diocese of Buffalo’s own reporting, Buffalo Crescent Holdings planned to convert the property into a downtown Islamic center.

The company has been associated with Buffalo’s Downtown Islamic Center. Earlier plans for the wider site included a mosque as well as educational and community facilities. Local reporting indicated that proposed development plans included an Islamic school, college, shopping facilities, a funeral home and other community spaces.

Why Did St. Ann Church Close

St. Ann had served Buffalo’s Catholic community for generations. The parish was active until 2007, when it merged with SS. Columba-Brigid Parish. Activities at the St. Ann site eventually ended in 2013. The historic building had suffered from deterioration and structural problems, making its continued use increasingly difficult and expensive.

The property was subsequently offered for sale rather than remaining an active Catholic place of worship. Reports about the sale gained widespread attention in 2024 after social-media posts described the church as being converted into a mosque. However, contemporary reporting noted that the precise timeline for completing the conversion remained unclear.

Site Faces New Problems in 2026

The story took another turn in 2026 when the former St. Ann complex suffered several fires. A major fire damaged the former school building in January, while firefighters were called to the former church again in July. Buffalo officials subsequently raised concerns about security and the condition of the abandoned property.

The incidents have complicated redevelopment of the historic site. Current reporting continues to describe the location as a former church property intended for Islamic and community use, rather than confirming that a completed mosque is already operating inside the historic sanctuary.

Therefore, the most accurate description is that St. Ann Church was purchased for conversion and redevelopment into an Islamic center that included plans for a mosque, rather than claiming without qualification that the entire conversion has already been completed.

The case reflects a wider trend in Buffalo, where changing demographics and the closure of older religious buildings have resulted in some former churches finding new uses as mosques, schools and community centers.

WKBW Buffalo – Former St. Ann's Church property sold