HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY IN BUFFALO

The new Church of Scientology Buffalo.

The Church of Scientology of Buffalo, first established in 1967, is expanding in order to meet an increasing demand for Dianetics and Scientology services and to better meet the needs of the Buffalo community.

The Church has just moved to its new home at 836 Main Street — the former Buffalo Public Library building on the southwest corner of Virginia and Main — following many months of parishioner-supported renovations and restoration to the 110-year-old Buffalo landmark.

All members of the community are welcome to tour the newly restored facility and see what has been done to return this historical city treasure to its original splendor and beyond.

The Church’s convenient location and extensive facilities in the 6-story, airy building are ideally suited for meetings, conferences, weddings and banquets, and are available to the public.

Conference Room

The local Church’s move to accommodate a growing demand for its services is another milestone event in a 36-year tradition of continuous expansion of the Scientology religion in the Buffalo area. As early as the 1950s, following the publication of Mr. Hubbard’s first book on the subject, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, people in Buffalo were telling their friends about the book. Interest in the miracle results from Dianetics (from the Greek words dia, meaning through, and nous, soul, or “through the soul”), started to ripple across the town. Study groups formed in people’s homes and guest lecturers traveled to Buffalo to introduce the basic ideas of Scientology philosophy.

In the 1960s, after several people from Buffalo went to England to be trained as religious counselors (“auditors”) in Dianetics and Scientology, the first Scientology mission opened, on Seneca St. in West Seneca, NY, and then a second in Orchard Park. In a short time, larger quarters were needed and the Seneca mission moved from an 850 sq. foot facility to one of 15,000 sq. feet. By 1971, the expansion of the congregation in the Buffalo area was such that the church was granted its full charter and became the Church of Scientology Buffalo, now authorized to do professional training of auditors.