Our Lady Help of Christians Chapel was designated a National Historic site on December 14, 1978.

Our Lady Help of Christians Chapel was founded by Joseph Batt in 1853 in fulfillment of a vow made during a hurricane several years earlier. In 1852 Joseph Batt went to Bishop Timon to let him know that in a storm on the ocean he had promised to erect a chapel in honor of the Blessed Virgin and obtained the following decision;

At the frequent and urgent request of the good and pious Mr. Joseph Batt, we give him permission to build at his expense and through his efforts a church or chappel [sic] on three acres of ground he deeded to us in the Town of Cheectowaga [sic] and also to fence in a portion of the three acres & let it be used by the neighborhood as a grave yard. When all this is done we will give permission to bless the church and the grave yard, it being always understood that the church etc.shall ever remain as now is the lot, the property of the Bishop of Buffalo and his successors; it being also understood that said Batt does not expect or claim any Sunday services , but only that, on week days, when convenient & particularly if a Mass for the dead is to be said, the Priest from Williamsville will go thither to officiate & and the right of that pastor is to be in no ways infringed .


below 1908 postcard




below 1907 postcard



below 1918 postcard



below c1910 postcard



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