USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York, from the earliest historic times to the beginning of 1907 > Part 42
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In 1884 there were the five Baptist churches in the city whose careers to that time are described above. Since then these five churches have stead- ily grown and prospered, sending out far-reaching influence for good, and, in addition, ten more Bap- tist churches and several mission chapels have been established in Rochester. Since 1884 the pastors of the First church have been Rev. J. W. A. Stew- art, D. D., and Rev. James Taylor Dickinson, D. D., the present pastor. The membership of the church is now 965 and its Sunday school has an enrollment of 1,400. A year ago the church spent $30,000 in beautifying and modernizing all parts of the interior of its structure. Since 1884 the pastors of the Second Baptist church have been Rev. S. W. Duncan, D. D., Rev. F. L. Anderson, Rev. D. D. MeLaurin, D. D., and Rev. Charles H. Rust. The present membership of this church is 1.129, with a Sunday school enrollment of 911. This church has recently made extensive improve- ments on its edifice. Rev. Clarence A. Barbour, D. D., has been pastor of the Lake Avenue Baptist church for the past sixteen years. It has a mem- bership of 1,078 and a Sunday school enrollment of 1,084. The Park Avenue Baptist church has had the following pastors: Rev. H. C. Peepels,
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SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, 1838.
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Rev. Chas. H. Moss and Rev. H. C. Applegarth, D. D., the present pastor. It has a membership of 740, with a Sunday school of 498. The present pastor of the First German Baptist church is Rev. C. A. Daniel, and the church has a membership of 254, with a Sunday school of 174.
The younger Baptist churches of the city, with their pastors, are as follows: Bronson avenue, Rev. C. A. MacAlpine; North avenue, Rev. F. C. A. Jones; Lyell avenue, Rev. W. J. Reid; Meigs street, Rev. H. C. Peepels; Niagara street, Rev. S. Everton ; Second German, Rev. H. Swyter ; Par- sells avenue, Rev. S. F. Langford; University ave- nue, Rev. William Calloway; Wilder street, Rev Harry G. Greensmith; Genesce street, Rev. E. V. Lamb. The total membership of the Baptist churches of the city is a little over 6,000. One of the most successful of recent Baptist enterprises was the establishment of the Baptist Home for the Aged at Fairport, in 1904. This magnificent home is already filled with inmates. The Roches- ter Baptist Monthly is a valuable publication, which was enlarged and improved in 1905. The development and prosperity of the University of Rochester and of the Rochester Theological sem- inary are largely due to the devotion and generos- ity of Rochester Baptists. Both of these institu- tions are under the control of the Baptist denom- ination. The Meigs Street Baptist church has purchased recently a very desirable lot on the corner of South avenue and Linden street and expects to erect on this location as soon as possible a new house of worship. Several others of the younger Baptist churches of the city have impor- tant plans which they hope soon to carry out, either to erect new edifices or to enlarge their present buildings.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
Rochester was formerly under the ecclesiastical administration of the bishops of New York. The first of these was the Rt. Rev. John Connolly, who came to New York in 1817. There is no evidence that he ever visited Rochester. His successor, Bishop Dubois, came to Rochester in 1834, to ded- icate the second church. Bishops Hughes and McCloskey also visited Rochester officially. In 1847 the diocese of Buffalo was erected, and Rev. John Timon, a member of the Congregation of
Missions, was appointed its first bishop. In March, 1868, the diocese of Rochester was formed, com- prising the counties of Monroe, Livingston, On- tario, Wayne, Seneca, Yates, Cayuga and Tomp- kins as its limits. Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid was consecrated bishop of the new diocese on the 12th of July and took possession of his see on the 16th of the sume month. In 1897 the counties Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Tioga were de- tached from Buffalo and joined to Rochester.
St. Patrick's Church .-- The first priest who ex- ercised the ministry in Rochester, of whom we have any record, was Rev. Patrick McCormick, in 1818 and 1819. He acted under the administra- tion of the Rt. Rev. John Connolly. Rev. Mr. McCormick was succeeded by Patrick Kelly in 1819, remaining until 1823. It was during his pastorate that the first Catholic church was built in 1821 on the corner of Platt and Frank streets. Rev. Michael MeNamara came to Rochester in 1825, remaining as pastor of St. Patrick's church, the first church, until 1832. He died in Chili, August 30th. 1832. During his administration the second church. eighty fert by fifty, of stone, was built. A wood cut of this is reproduced in this volume. During its erection the congregation rented the lower part of D. B. Crane's school- house, on Buffalo street, for $1.25 per Sunday.
On the 20th of April, 1829, the congregation was organized as a church corporation under the Jaw of 1813. On the same day the following trus- lees were elected: William Tone, John Sheridan, Robert Elliott, Stephen Conroy, William Grennan, Patrick Rigney, Patrick Grace, William Morony and Richard Storey. In 1823 Rev. John F. Me- Gerry was appointed to succeed Father MeNa- mara. In 1833 Rev. Bernard O'Reilly replaced Father MeGerry, who in 1834 returned to the pastoral charge of St. Patrick's. In 1835 Father O'Reilly resumed the pastorate, which he held until 1849, when as vicar-general of the new dio- rese of Buffalo he took up his residence with the bishop of Buffalo, In 1850 he was consecrated bishop of Hartford. In June, 1856, he sailed from Liverpool on the steamer "Pacific" and was lost at sea. Father O'Reilly had Rev. P. Foley as assistant pastor in 1834, who made an attempt to organize the congregation of St. Mary's. Rev. Mark Murphy, an eminent linguist, was assistant to Father O'Reilly in 1840 and 1841. In 1849
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Rev. Win. O'Reilly, having been his assistant from 1845, succeeded his brother as pastor of St. Pat- rick's, remaining until 1854. Rev. Michael O'Bri- en was pastor from 1854 to 1859. Rev. Martin Kavanagh held the office for a year and was re- placed by the Rev. M. O'Brien, who continned in office till 1865. In May, 1864, the pastor and Michael Lester and James H. Tone, as trustees, contracted for the building of the present church, it being the third stone church on the same site. A large temporary building having been erected on the lot of the academy, religious services were held in it until March, 1869. In 1865 Rev. James M. Early was appointed pastor and continued the work begun by his predecessor. On the 17th of March, 1869, the church was so far advanced that the congregation moved into it. In November, 1870. it was solemnly blessed by Most Rev. John M. Motloskey, then archbishop of New York, afterward cardinal. Eighteen archbishops and bishops and over one hundred priests were pres- ent. In April, 1876, Rev. James M. Early offered his resignation as pastor and withdrew from the diocese. He was immediately succeeded by Rev. James F. O'Hare, who in seven years paid off an indebtedness of $70,000, which he found on the church and school when he assumed office. In March, 1886, Rev. James F. O'Hare was ap- pointed pastor of the church of the Immaculate Conception and was succeeded by Rev. James P. Kiernan. Under his able administration the great work accomplished by his predecessor was con- tinued. In January, 1898, he was appointed to the irremovable rectorship of St. Mary's. Rev. Thomas F. Hickey (Bishop Hickey) succeeded him. The high standard of administrative ability evinced by his predecessor has since been main- tained. In 1897 and 1898 a chapel was built on the site of the old St. Patrick's girls' orphan asy- lum; the spire of the cathedral, unfinished at the building of the church, was completed and the apse'was built and a marble altar was presented by Rev. F. Donoghue in memory of his dead par- ente.
Consecrator of the cathedral, Most Rev. M. A. Corrigan, archbishop of New York; for the solemn pontifical mass, Most Rev. Sebastian Martinelli, apostolic delegate to the United States. There were present twenty-three archbishops and over one hundred and fifty very reverend and reverend clergy from various parts of the United States. Bishop McQuaid preached the sermon. In the cathedral on May 24th, 1905, Very Rev. Thomas F. Hickey was consecrated bishop, to be titular bishop of Berenice and coadjutor bishop of Roch- ester. The event will be forever memorable in the history of the cathedral and Rochester. There were present seventeen archbishopa and bishops, fifteen monsignori and over two hundred of the very reverend and reverend clergy, secular and reg- ular. There were present all the students of St. Bernard's and St. Andrew's seminaries, sisters from the various orders of women engaged in re- ligious work of the diocese, the trustees of the churches of Rochester and a congregation of more than two thousand persons. Most Rev. D. Fal- conio, the apostolie delegate, was a guest of honor. The consecrating prelate was Most Rev. John M. Farley, archbishop of New York; the assistant consecrators were Rt. Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid of Rochester and Rt. Rev. P. A. Luddon of Syra- cuse.
St. Patrick's School .- The early phases of the school connected with St. Patrick's parish are difficult to trace, as the records are fragmentary and most of the parties connected with it are dead. There was a school in the basement of the church as far back as 1832, Mr. Hughes being one of the pioneer teachers, and Patrick Grennan was an instructor between 1843 and 1848. In 1843 the Sisters of St. Joseph took charge of the female portion of the scholars. In 1857 the new school at the corner of Frank and Brown streets was open for the reception of boys under the charge of the Brothers of the Christian school. Brother Adolphus was the first director. In the spring of 1871 the foundation of the new school next adjoining and west of the old one was laid and the work continued without interruption, 40 that in September, 1871, ample school accommoda- tions were afforded to all the children of the par- ish. This school, graded after the manner of the
On Wednesday, October 5th, 1898, the cathedral was consecrated. The consecration of the cathe- dral marked the diamond jubilee of the parish, the golden jubilee of Bishop McQuaid and the thirtieth anniversary of his consecration as bishop. . public schools, is free to all the children of the The following were the officers on the occasion :
parish and is supported by the congregation. The
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ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1838.
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Christian Brothers left Rochester in the summer of 1872 and their places were supplied in part by laymen. D. B. Murphy, James Rowan and Wil- liam E. Ryan had successively charge of the fir4. and second grades of boys till July. 1882. In the meantime the Sisters of St. Joseph supplied the places of the other lay teachers. In Septem- ber, 1882, the Sisters assumed full charge of the school, under the direction of Rev. James P. Kiernan as superintendent. In September, 1906, the grammar school opened with a reg- istered attendance of 954 pupils, with Sister M Cornelia in charge, assisted by eighteen others Advanced courses were undertaken in 1903 under the direction of Very Rev. Thomas F. Hickey. In 1906 the Cathedral hall, built in 1887, was con- rerted into a high school, classical and commercial. Sister M. Prudentia was appointed principal and is aided by six other teachers. The registered at- tendance is ninety-three.
St. Joseph's .-- The German Catholics of Roches- ter had to worship in St. Patrick's from the time of its erection till 1836, when they bought, for $1,600, the negroes' church on Ely street, occupy- ing that small structure till 1843, when the hand- some stone edifice was completed, having been be- gun two years before. It has always been in charge of the Redemptorist fathers, its first rector har- ing been Rev. Joseph Probst. His successors, down to 1881 (since which time it has been impossible to obtain a list), were Messrs. Tshenhens, Bera- vack, Czvikovicz, Breska, DeDyker, Leingruber, Anwander, Holzer, Ruland, Zimmer, Schneider. Frolich. The present rector is Rev. Wm. Kessel, with four assistants. The parish comprises about 485 families. During 1895 a change in the teach- ing faculty for higher grades for boys of St. Joseph's parochial school was made. In place of the Marian brothers, who taught the boys for the previous thirty-eight years, the Sisters of Notre Dame were engaged with the consent of the higher superiors, and these sisters took charge of the whole school. In 1904 a commercial class was added. During the summer months of 1901 re- pairs and alterations were made in St. Joseph's school and hall, to the great satisfaction of the par- ish. The C. Y. M. A. of St. Joseph's church built, in 1902, a substantial club-house on Ormond street The corner-stone was laid with appropriate cere-
monies by the rector, Rev. Wm. Kessel, on Septent- ber 22d. The building is forty-two feet by one hundred and five feet, number of members over 300. In 1902 a new beautiful private oratory for the use of the Redemptorist community was erected and the following year was occupied. A new par- ish library was begun in 1906.
St. Mary's .- This is one of the largest parishes in the city. For many years the congregation wor- shiped in a building that they bought from the Methodists on South avenue, opposite Ely street. which was afterward turned into a wagon shop. The present fine edifice, which seats comfortably 1,500 people, is on South street; it was consecrated by Bishop Timon, of Buffalo, on August 23d, 1858. The first regular pastor of the parish was Father Carroll, who came in 1851. He was succeeded by Fathers Creedon, McEvoy, Moore (who was an army chaplain during the Civil war), Flaherty. MeMannis. Early, MeGovern, Barker and Stewart. The Inst named died in September, 1897, and was succeeded by Very Rev. James P. Kiernan, V. G M. R. Father Kiernan died in May, 1900, and was succeeded by Rev. T. C. Murphy, who died in October of the same year. Rev. James Leary sur- ceeded Father Murphy and died in December, 1901. Rev. Wm. Gleason, M. R., is the present rertor. The old parochial residence was replaced in 1905 by a fine brick structure. The school is under the charge of the Sisters of Mercy, with Sis- ter M. Stanislaus as principal. There are 511 chil- dren in the school. The pastor of St. Mary's is an "irremovable rector."
Sts. Peter and Paul's .- When St. Joseph's was huilt on the east side, the German Catholics on the west side of the river considered that they must have a church of their own, so they separated from the others in 1842 and put up a frame structure on the corner of King and Maple streete, the deed of the property, on account of some trouble that they had, standing in the name of Bishop Hughes of New York. The first trustees were Simon Zeng and J. Iogele. The present church was built in 1859 and was dedicated by Bishop Young, of Erie, on August 15th of that year. The first pas- tor was Rev. Ivo Levitz, a Franciscan father, who was followed by Rev. Count Anthony Berenyi; his successors have been Messrs. Schneider, Folleniua Krantbaur, Eicher, Sadler and Francis H. Sin-
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elair, who became the rector in October, 1865, and still retains that position. A few years ago the congregation, having bought two houses on the northeast side of its property, thereby obtained the possession of a public alley necessary for the erec- tion of a parish hall and gymnasium on Litchfield street. This was connected with a brick building, the interior of which was changed into rooms suit- able for the young men's club, and a bowling alley was built adjacent to it. In 1898 all the bodies, about 1,200, buried in the old parish ceme- tery on Maple street, were removed and reinterred in a common lot in Holy Sepulcher cemetery and a granite monument erected over the same. In 1903 a new and large organ was purchased and two years after the whole interior of the church was re- modeled and decorated in the basilican style, and the next year the exterior also of the brick build- ings was renovated.
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Our Lady of Victory .- The French Catholics formed a congregation in 1847, and for the first twenty years worshiped in the old German church on Ely street, which thus became known as "St. Mary's French church." In 1868, during the pastorate of Father De Regge, the present build- ing, of brick, was erected on Pleasant street, tak- ing then its present name, though the incorpora- tion of the society still retains the old title. The first trustees were Antoine Langie and Ambroise Dupont, and the first resident pastor was Rev. A. Saunier, his successors being Messrs. Bricoh, Lefèvre, Pierard, Magne, Matricon. Amatore, Le Breton, De Regge and Dole. Since 1879 Rev. A. A. Notebaert, a native of Belgium, has been in charge of the church. Under his administration a beautiful and much needed portico was added to the building. The interior of the church was tastefully decorated and adorned with several artistic statues, the work of European artists. Candelabras of great value were supplemented for the altar and an organ of artistic conception was inaugurated. Electric light- in great profusion help to beautify this homelike little church. The purchase of two parcels of real estate, one in the rear of the pastoral residence. the other in the rear of the church building, gave additional room required for the needs of the growing congrega- tion. On the former is built a spacious study mom; on the latter a parochial school at an ex- pense of $16,000. The building contains large
school-rooms, accommodating 300 pupils ; meeting- rooms for societies, and a hall with a sitting capac- ity of 600 persons. The school is under the direction of the able Sisters of St. Joseph's.
Immaculate Conception .- This congregation was formed in 1949, being taken from St. Pat- rick's. The first church, a frame structure, hav- ing been burned to the ground, another one, of brick, was built in 1864. This also having been greatly damaged by fire in 1872, the present edi- fice was erreted, on Plymouth avenue, facing the little park. The first trustees were James Hayes and Patrick Condon. The first pastor was Rev. John Fitzpatrick, who was succeeded by Messrs. Bradley, O'Brien, Mckeon, Stephens, Bede and Burns. Rev. Michael M. Meagher was appointed in 1875. He died in 1886, and, though during his pastorate the country had suffered a great financial depression, he nevertheless reduced the in- debtedness from $45,000 to $19,000. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. James F. O'Hare. The congrega- tion had been constantly growing, and in 1886 the school-house was enlarged, and remodeled. An addition was made to the building at a cost of $9,500, making it 110 feet long. The same rea- son that demanded the enlargement of the school in 1886 required the erection of another building in 1893. A school hall having a frontage of sixty feet and a depth of 110 feet was erected. In the basement are society rooms; on the first floor are six class-rooms, and the upper story consists of an auditorium, which will seat 1,000. It cost $33,600. Father O'Hare died in August, 1898, and was succeeded by Rev. Augustine M. O'Neill. The southwestern portion of the parish was then cut off for the formation of St. Monica's. In 1889 was celebrated the golden jubilee of the organization of the parish. The parish indebted- ness then war $24,000, and in 1904 it was all paid. In 1906 was erected a parochial convent for the accommodation of the sisters teaching in the school. Its cost was $33,500, and, with the excep- tion of $11,500, the debt thus contracted is paid. The church property is valued at $225,000. There are over 1,000 children attending the school. The congregation numbers 4,500. Rev. G. W. Eckl and Rev. A. V. Byrne are the assistant priests, There are fifteen societies connected with the church and school, and a parochial school library.
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St. Bridget's .- This parish was organized in 1834 by Bishop Timon, of Buffalo. It is situated in the northern part of Rochester, lying east of the river. It has a far better account of its begin- nings than have most churches, for even the min- utes of the first meeting are still extant. This was held on April 21st, 1854, in the basement of the French Catholic church on Ely street. There the founders of the parish met with their first pastor, Rev, Father Saunier, Richard Story being chairman, and Patrick Connolly secretary. Father Saunier urged the immediate erection of a Catholic church in the section of the city known as the Dublin district. A committee that was then appointed decided upon the purchase of a lot ex- tending 120 feet on Summit park (Hand street), 300 feet deep and 120 feet on Gorham street. The lot was bought, and the erection of a church, dedicated to St. Bridget, was commenced on Hand street. The building still stands, and, with some improvements, at present serves as the parochial school. The new congregation soon outgrew the accommodation of the little brick church on Hand street, and the erection of the present church on Gorham street was undertaken by the late Very Rev. J. F. O'Hare, V. G., and on the 8th of September, 1872, the laying of the corner-stone took place by Bishop McQuaid, of Rochester. On Low Sunday, April 5th, 1875, mass was celebrated for the last time in the old church, on Hand street, and on the following Sunday the new church was dedicated by Bishop McQuaid. The most important event was the opening of the parochial school and, under six Sisters of St. Joseph, sessions were commenced on the 8th of September, 1875. The parish is composed of about 500 families, with the attend- ance in the parochial school numbering about 450 children. The names of the devoted priests who have assisted in the success of St. Bridget's parish as pastors are as follows: Fathers Saunier, 1854- 56 : Flaherty, July, 1856, to October, 1856; Moore, 1856-38; Baker, 1858-59: Mckeon, June, 1859, to December, 1859; Payne, 1860-67; Burns, 1867- 71: O'Hare, 1871-76; O'Connor. 1876-91; Hen- drick, 1891-1903. The present pastor is Rev. D. W. Kavanaugh, The parish buildings consist of the church on Gorham street and the convent adjoining, and the parochial school-house and pas- toral residence on Hand street.
St. Boniface's .- This German congregation, an offshoot of St. Joseph's, was organized in 1860 under the care of the Redemptorist fathers, and in the following year a church was built on Grand street, which, though enlarged in 1870, became out- grown by the needs of the parish, so a new church, of Gothic architecture, with a beautiful tower 195 feet high, was erected at a cost of 870,000, the corner-stone being laid June 6th, 1886, and the building dedicated December 18th, 1887. In 1900 the new Sisters' convent was built, costing $11,000. The school building, where German and English are taught, contains eight rooms; 380 pupils at. tend; the parish has 425 families. The first pas- tor was Rev. J. P. Klein, an Alsatian, who was succeeded in 1865 by Rev. J. F. Payer. an Aus- trian; he by Rev. Herman Renker in 18:5, and he, in 1894, by Rev. F. R. Rauber, the present rector.
The Holy Family .- This parish, also German. was separated from that of Sts. Peter and Paul and organized in 1862. The present church, on the corner of Jay and Ames streets, was built in 1861. The first trustees were Peter Esse and John Behm. The first pastor was Rev. Nicholas Sorg, from 1861 to 1866, the next was Rev. Charles Wagner for one year, then Rev. Leopold Hofschneider. from 1867 to 1884, then Rev. D. Laurenzis, from May 4th, 1884, to the present time. In 1904 the church was declared by Bishop McQuaid to be on' with an "irremovable rector," and Father Laur- enzis was reappointed with that enlarged dignity In 1888 a residence was built for the clergy. Up to this time the pastor resided in the rear part of the church. In 1889 the second school with a hall was built. In 1890 a house was bought for the residence of the sexton. In 1891 the old wooden convent building was removed and a new brick building was ereried for the school sisters The first assistant to the pastor was appointed in 1891. A second assistant was appointed in 1902. In 1906 the third school building (fire-proof) was erected. From 1891 to 1907 the following have been assistants at this church: Revs. Jas. Miller S. B. Englerth and P. A. Erras. At present the two assistants are Rev. Jos. HT. Gefell and Rev. Ernst Ziegan. On January Ist, 1907, the Holy Family church consisted of about 1,000 families (600 in 1884), all belonging to the laboring elaas
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