Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora sold for $4.2 million

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Diocese of Buffalo has sold the sprawling former Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora for more than $4 million, the Diocese said Tuesday.

The 117-acre property located on Knox Road was sold to World Mission Society of God for a total of $4.2 million in a public auction. The sale is expected to be closed within weeks.

The seminary had been closed since 2020 after budget deficits of $500,000 per year. The campus was originally listed for $5.3 million, and World Mission Society had put in an offer of $3.8 million in July.

The Diocese is selling assets to collect funds to help pay for any settlement of the hundreds of sexual abuse claims filed under the Adult Survivors Act, which gave victims a year to file claims against abusers. In October 2023, the Diocese’s “suggested contribution” to settle the cases was $100 million, plus insurance funds. The Diocese confirmed that the net sale proceeds will go into funding the settlements.

World Mission of Society Church of God is a New Jersey-based, nondenominational Christian church that's mission is to "enlighten humankind about the truth of the New Covenant that leads to salvation," according to its website. It was established in South Korea, according to its site, and has a presence in 175 countries with 3,000,000 members.