USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the Genesee country (western New York) comprising the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates, Volume II > Part 9
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There are two churches of the denomination now in Rochester, the South Congregational Church, Alexander and Pearl streets, which was founded in 1886, and the North Congregational Church, North Goodman near Clifford, organized in 1918. There have been a number of Congregational churches in Rochester dur- ing the years past, including the First Society and the Free Church, but the longest-lived of the group was the Plymouth, or- ganized in February, 1853. A church was built on the corner of Troup and Sophia streets, the name of the latter being changed later to Plymouth out of deference to the church; the building was dedicated in 1855. This society endured until August, 1904, when it was dissolved. The church property is now used by the Spiritualist Church Society.
Roman Catholics of Rochester were first under the authority of New York bishops, but in 1847 the diocese of Buffalo was formed, with Rev. John Timon as the first bishop. In March,
ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, ROCHESTER, 1838
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1868, there was created the diocese of Rochester, consisting of the counties of Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, Yates, Cayuga and Tompkins. Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid was consecrated bishop of the new diocese July 12, 1847, and served faithfully and with great distinction until 1909. His successor is the Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Hickey. Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Tioga counties were added to the Rochester Diocese in 1897.
Rev. Patrick McCormick seems to have been the first priest in Rochester, in the years 1818 and 1819; in the latter year he was succeeded by Rev. Patrick Kelly, who remained until 1823. Under the latter the first Catholic Church in the village was built on the corner of Platt and Frank streets: this was in 1823. In 1827 Rev. Michael McNamara came to Rochester as pastor of St. Patricks and remained until 1832, when he died. On April 20, 1829, the church was incorporated and the following are the names of the first trustees : William Tone, John Sheridan, Robert Elliott, Stephen Conroy, William Grennan, Patrick Rigney, Pat- rick Grace, William Morony and Richard Story. Father Mc- Namara was succeeded by Rev. John F. McGerry, and the latter was replaced in the next year by Rev. Bernard O'Reilly. In 1834 Father McGerry returned for a year, and then Father O'Reilly again took charge, which he maintained until 1849. He was made bishop of Hartford in 1850, and in 1856 was lost at sea. Rev. William O'Reilly, a brother of the above, succeeded as pastor of St. Patrick's and remained until 1854. Then followed Michael O'Brien, 1854-1859; Martin Kavanagh, 1859-1860; Michael O'Brien, 1860-1865; James M. Early, 1865-1876; James F. O'Hare, 1876-1886; James P. Kiernan, 1886-1898; Thomas F. Hickey, 1898. The latter became coadjutor bishop of the Roches- ter diocese May 24, 1905, and later bishop as already stated. The third church building of the parish was completed in 1869. On October 5, 1898, the cathedral was completed. Rev. Charles F. Shay is the present pastor.
The German Catholics of Rochester originally attended St. Patrick's Church, but in 1836 they bought a building on Ely Street, which they occupied until 1843, when the construction of a stone church was completed. The rectors who have had charge of St. Joseph's Parish have been Joseph Probst, Tshenhens, Bera- nack, Czvikovicz, Breska, DeDyker, Leingruber, Anwander, Hol-
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zerm Ruland, Zimmer, Schneider, Frolich (this list to 1884). Since 1901 there have been Fathers Kessel, Holz, Hennes, Rei- chert and Behr. The parish has always been in charge of the Redemptorist fathers.
The Catholic Parish of St. Mary's was founded in 1834. During the first years of the congregation worshipped in a build- ing on South Avenue, opposite Ely Street, but in 1858 the modern structure on South Street was finished. The first regular pastor of St. Mary's was Father Carroll, who came in 1851, and he has been succeeded by Fathers Creedon, McEvoy, Moore, Flaherty, McMannis, Early, McGovern, Barker, Stewart, Kiernan, Murphy, Gleason and Simeon Fitzsimons.
While St. Joseph's Parish was designed for the German Cath- olics on the east side of the river, those on the west side in 1842 formed the Parish of SS. Peter and Paul and erected a frame church on the corner of King and Maple Streets. The second church house was constructed in 1859. The first pastor was Rev. Ivo Levitz, a Franciscan father, and he has been followed by Fathers Anthony Berenyi, Schneider, Follenius, Krautbaur, Eicher, Sadler and Sinclair.
Our Lady of Victory Church (Franco-Belgian) dates from 1848. The French congregation used the old German Church on Ely Street for fully twenty years; then, in 1868, a brick building was erected on Pleasant Street. The first trustees of this church, which for the first two decades was known as St. Mary's French Church, were Antoine Langie and Ambroise Dupont. The pas- tors have been Fathers A. Saunier, Bricoh, Lefevre, Pierard, Magne, Matricon, Amatore, Le Breton, De Regge and Dole. Since the year 1879 Rev. Alphonse A. Notebaert has been rector.
The Immaculate Conception congregation was organized in the year 1849, having been taken from St. Patrick's. The first church building, of wood, soon burned, and a brick structure was erected in 1864. This, too, was injured by fire in 1872, and a new edifice, on Plymouth Avenue, was erected. The pastors of the Immaculate Conception Church have been Fathers John Fitz- patrick, Bradley, O'Brien, Mckeon, Stephens, Bede, Burns, O'Neill and Cameron.
St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Parish was organized in 1854. The first pastor was Reverend Saunier. A lot was purchased on
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Hand Street and a church erected. The congregation soon out- grew the little brick church and a new one was built on Gorham Street and completed in 1875. The pastors since Father Saunier have been Fathers Flaherty, Moore, Baker, Mckeon, Payne, Burns, O'Hare, O'Connor, Hendrick, Kavanaugh, and Bresnihan.
St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church, a German offspring of St. Joseph's Parish, was founded in 1860 under the Redemp- torist fathers. In 1861 a church was built on Grand Street. A new church was dedicated in 1887. The pastors have been as follows: Reverends J. P. Klein, J. F. Payer, Herman Renker, F. R. Rauber and John F. Roppel.
The Holy Family Parish, also German, was taken from the Parish of SS. Peter and Paul in 1862, and in 1864 a church was constructed on the corner of Jay and Ames streets. Peter Esse and John Boehm were the first trustees and the first pastor was Rev. Nicholas Sorg, followed by Fathers Charles Wagner, Leo- pold Hofschneider and Dietrich Laurenzis, the latter assuming charge in 1884 and remaining until 1925.
St. Joseph's Parish was the parent of another church, the Holy Redeemer, in 1867. The first church building for this con- gregation was erected in 1868 and the second in 1877. The pastors have been Reverends F. Oberholzer, J. Staub, F. W. Stauder.
St. Michael's Parish was organized in January, 1873, and Rev. Pingel appointed temporary pastor. In November, 1874, Rev. F. Pascalar was appointed the first regular pastor. In the preceding March the first church house had been erected and was used until 1890, when the second church building was com- pleted on Clinton Avenue, North, Rev. M. J. Hargather suc- ceeded to the pastorate in 1896 and is the present incumbent.
The Holy Apostles' Roman Catholic Church was organized May 1, 1884, as a mission to the Cathedral. Rev. Timothy C. Murphy was appointed as the first pastor and he has been suc- ceeded by James A. Hickey in 1900, George T. Jones in 1904, and John F. Nelligan in 1910. The first church structure of this parish was dedicated in 1885 and the second church in 1897.
Corpus Christi Parish was established in 1887, an East Main Street Lot bought the next year and a church constructed; this was replaced by a second church building in 1903. Rev. James
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J. Leary was the first pastor, followed in 1901 by Rev. D. J. Curran, and in 1923 by Rev. John F. O'Hern.
The Church of St. Francis Xavier was organized in 1888 and Rev. M. Hargather appointed pastor. A church was built in the same year on Bay Street opposite Third Avenue. Rev. Joseph Netzel assumed charge of this parish in 1896, Michael Krischel in 1909; Francis G. Kunz is the present pastor.
Holy Rosary Parish, originally a part of the Cathedral Parish, was organized in 1889. Rev. John G. Van Ness was appointed pastor. In 1904 a brick building, used for both church and school, was erected on Lexington Avenue. Reverend Van Ness was suc- ceeded by James H. Day and Arthur A. Hughes.
St. Stanislaus Church (Polish) was organized and a church building erected, in 1890. Rev. Theophile Szadzinski was the original pastor.
St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church was established in June, 1898, by the bishop, who appointed Rev. J. P. Brophy as the first pastor. He is in charge at the present time. The church build- ing is located at the corner of Genesee and Monica streets.
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, located at 524 Oxford Street, was founded in 1902 and Rev. T. F. Connors appointed pastor, a position he still holds.
The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, designed to care for the northern part of the city east of the river, was incor- porated in May, 1904, Rev. John P. Schellhorn had been named as pastor shortly before the organization, and yet has charge. Land on Joseph Avenue, near Norton Street, was secured and a house of worship completed thereon in 1905.
St. Augustine's Parish was organized in 1907, but had its real beginning in 1898, when a chapel and school were built on Chili Avenue for the Cathedral Parish members living in the west part of Rochester. A new church was constructed in 1907. In September, 1906, the pastor, Rev. John O'Brien, was appointed.
The Church of St. Anthony of Padua (Italian) was estab- lished in 1906, when property at the corner of Lyell Avenue, Frank and White streets, was bought from the city for the pur- pose of starting a parish. Rev. J. Emil Gefell was the first pastor.
The Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Italian), located at
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53 Ontario Street, was founded in 1909. Rev. Walter A. Foery is the rector.
St. George's Roman Catholic Church (Lithuanian), at Hud- son Avenue and Weeger Street, was established in the year 1910; the parish is in charge of Rev. Joseph Kasakaitis, who was ap- pointed that year.
The Church of the Sacred Heart at Flower City Park near Raines Park, was organized in 1910; Rev. George V. Burns was named as pastor.
St. Lucy's Church (Italian), Troup Street at Tilden, was founded in 1912, in which year the present pastor, Rev. Mario Catalano, was appointed.
Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Niagara and Dake streets, was founded in 1914. Rev. Patrick A. Moffatt is the pastor.
St. John the Evangelist's Church, situated on Humboldt Street at Floverton, was organized in 1914 and in that year Rev. John B. Sullivan was named as rector.
St. Andrew's Church, at Portland Avenue and Durnan Street, was started in 1914 with Rev. George W. Eckl in charge.
St. Ambrose Church, Clifford Avenue and Culver Road, is in charge of Rev. Walter B. McCarthy.
In the early '30s Lutheran pastors began to preach to the Ger- mans of Rochester. In 1834 Zion's First German Evangelical Lutheran Church came into existence as the first of the denomi- nation in the city. In 1836 the cornerstone of a building was laid at the corner of Grove and Stillson streets by Rev. W. A. Fetter, who is recorded as the first regular pastor here, although Dr. C. F. Welden did a notable work a few years earlier. The church building was completed in 1838, during the pastorate of Rev. John Muehlhaueser, the second minister in charge. His successors have been J. G. Kempe, 1848; A. Uebelacker, 1862; Fred von Rosenberg, 1868; C. F. W. Hoppe, 1874; Alexander Richter, 1881; Ernest Hartmann, 1890; Ernest Heyd, 1900, and now in charge. A second church building was completed in 1852.
The Church of the Reformation had its beginning in 1868. In September of that year the Evangelical Lutheran Missionary Society was inaugurated for the purpose of establishing an Eng- lish Lutheran Church in Rochester. Rev. Reuben Hill was in charge of the work at the start. Meetings were first held in the
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Zion Church, but in 1869 a room in the German school on Chatham Street was secured. The name, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reformation, was adopted October 31, 1871. In 1872 a lot on Grove Street was obtained and a church building erected. A new building to accommodate the growing church body was con- structed in 1900. The first pastor remained until 1874, and those who succeeded are : Charles S. Kohler, 1874; Hiram Peters, 1884; John E. Whitteker, 1888; William J. Miller, 1894; Franklin F. Fry, 1901; the latter is now in charge.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church came into existence through the necessity of a church to supply that portion of the city east of the river and north of the railroad. Zion Church undertook the task, and called Rev. Ernest Heydler to take up the mission work preliminary to organizing a church. A former church chapel at the corner of Joseph Avenue and Buchan Park was bought and the first services were held here October 20, 1872. The congregation was formally organized August 18, 1873, with Heydler as the first pastor. A new church building was dedicated June 27, 1875. Then came hard times, due to heavy indebtedness, and the greater portion of the membership withdrew with the pastor from St. John's and formed the Concordia Church Septem- ber 20, 1877. St. John's was left in a destitute condition for some time, then Rev. John Muehlhaeuser came; but he, too, with- drew in 1884, took half of the remaining congregation and built St. Matthew's Church in Morris Street. Rev. Joseph Rechsteiner then became pastor of St. John's for the period from 1884 to 1887 and was succeeded by Rev. John Nicum. The latter not only removed the debt on the church, but completed the building. Rev. Andrew Blum became pastor in 1910.
The Concordia Church, located Helena Street and Putnam, is in charge of Rev. Carl N. Conrad, who assumed the pastorate in 1882.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Matthew is under Rev. Henry B. Hemmeter, who came in 1918.
Grace English Evangelical Lutheran Church originated in a Sunday school established in the Wakelee farm district about 1870. In 1889 a church organization was effected and the first pastor was Rev. D. W. Sarver. The church building, located at Clifford Avenue and Manitou, was constructed soon after the or-
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ganization. Since Reverend Sarver, the pastors have been W. L. Hunton, 1891; W. E. Murray, 1896; C. P. Weisskotten, 1905; Frederick C. Martin, 1907; Walter Krumweide, 1919.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peace, situated at the corner of Caroline Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue, is the result of a mission Sunday school organized in 1884 in the southern part of the city under the auspices of Zion Church. In 1891 the congre- gation became self-supporting, with Rev. H. Meyer as first pastor. He was succeeded two years later by Rev. O. Posselt. The latter left the church in 1895, with half of the members, and formed St. Mark's congregation, which built a church on South Goodman Street. Rev. W. Rohde next came to the Church of Peace, then in 1902 Rev. W. K. Fiebke. He was succeeded in 1905 by Rev. William Ludwig, followed by Rev. Henry W. Friemuth in 1918. The present pastor is Rev. Rudolph F. Krauch.
Christus German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized January 11, 1892. After a year of meetings in a hall at Niagara Street and Central Park the society occupied a new church build- ing on Central Park and Fourth. The first pastor was Rev. W. E. Rommel, then came O. E. Lorenz, 1893; Friedrich Wiedner, 1894; John Kraemer, 1895; A. H. Roeder, 1898, the present in- cumbent.
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church had its start as a Sunday school branch of the Concordia Church about 1892, a chapel having been erected on the corner of Central Park and Fourth Street. The Bethlehem congregation was organized Octo- ber 15, 1895, by Rev. John Hartman, who remained as pastor until 1899. Professor Krahmer acted as supply then until the second regular pastor, Rev. Carl Betz, Jr., came in 1899. The latter is in charge at present.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1892. It is located at the corner of Campbell and Walnut streets. The first pastor was Rev. P. B. Smith, succeded shortly by Rev. Peter Altpeter. In 1896 Rev. Henry C. Erbes, the present pastor, as- sumed charge.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was established Sep- tember 14, 1898, with twenty-one original members. The Sunday school, from which it grew, had been started about six years be- fore. The church was first under the ministerial charge of Rev.
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L. F. Mayle, and a church building was constructed at the corner of Clifford Avenue and Loomis Street.
St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in No- vember, 1899, by a number of the members of Zion Church who left that congregation, together with the pastor, Rev. Ernest Hartmann. In 1900 a private house on Cumberland Street, east of Joseph Avenue, was bought and remodeled for church pur- poses. Rev. William Trebert succeeded to the pastorate in 1906 and still remains pastor.
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, at Dewey Avenue near Augustine Street, was organized in 1915 and is in charge of Rev. H. Branson Richards.
Trinity Evangelical Church, located on Child Street at Wilder, dates from the year 1842, when a number of members of the Zion German Lutheran Congregation withdrew and began to hold meetings on West Avenue, eventually selecting a pastor, Rev. C. G. Th. Soldan, who preached to them until 1845. The first church was built in 1847 on Allen Street; the present site was purchased in 1902 and a few years later the second church building erected. Since Reverend Soldan the pastors have been as follows: C. Biel, 1845; I. F. Illinger, 1846; A. Berkey, 1847; C. Haas, 1849; C. C. Clausen, 1852; Joh. Ph. Conradi, 1861; C. Siebenpfeiffer, 1862; B. Pick, 1873 ; Otto von Buehren, 1881; E. Henckell, 1883; Adolph C. G. Blatzer, 1897; Henry C. Erbes, 1898. Salem Church and St. Paul's were both offsprings of Trinity Church.
The congregation of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, composed of Reverend Conradi and a group of dissenting mem- bers of the Trinity Evangelical Church, was organized under its present title March 14, 1862. The old Unitarian property on North Fitzhugh Street, previously burned, was purchased and a house of worship erected. Conradi filled the pulpit until 1865, and following him have been F. Hoffmann, 1865; F. Heinle, 1869; A. Grotrian, 1873; A. Zeller, 1883; W. Baur, 1895; H. T. W. Grotefend, 1904; Louis F. Mayle, 1907; W. E. Murray, 1910; John W. Smith, present pastor.
Salem Evangelical Church, located on Franklin Street near St. Paul, was organized in 1873 by members of the Trinity Church and other Germans east of the river. A church building was erected during the same year. Following are the pastors who
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have served : C. Siebenpfeiffer, 1873; J. F. Wm. Helmkamp, 1894; Carl Betz, 1899; Frederick Frankenfeld, 1910.
Christ Evangelical Church, located at Portland Avenue and Jackson, is a mission established in 1913 and is in charge of Rev. Bernard J. Tepas.
The First Church of the Evangelical Association, distinct in religious character from any of the above, was founded in 1849. It is located at the corner of Carter and Zorn streets.
Calvary Evangelical Church, of the same denomination, at Culver Road and Melville Street, was established in 1898, while the third church of this denomination, the Bethany, Winton Road at Juniper Street, came into existence in 1913.
The German Evangelical Reformed Emanuel Congregation was started in 1848, when a number of German Catholics dis- sented from the mother church and withdrew. Meetings were first held in halls under the ministerial wing of Dr. L. Giustiniani. Opposition was had from the Catholic churches of the city and great difficulty was experienced by the new congregation in ob- taining a foothold. However, in 1851, a site for a church was secured on Cherry (later Windsor) Street, near University Ave- nue, and in March the society was incorporated as the Evangeli- cal Lutheran Emanuel Congregation, which was shortly changed to the simple title of German Mission Church. In 1852-1854 the name was again changed to the present style. A church building on the present site, Hamilton and Bond streets, was erected in 1867. Rev. W. Wier became pastor in 1849. Robert Kohler, 1852; Groszhusch, 1857; Claudius, 1867; Kuss, 1869, and Gund- lach, 1878, were other notable pastors of this congregation. The latter served a score of years. The Dewey Avenue Reformed Church, same denomination, was founded in 1912.
The Reformed Church in America has three congregations in the city of Rochester. In the early '40s quite a number of Hol- landers came to the city and practically all of them attended the Presbyterian Church, although few joined. Rev. Van Veen- heuizen came in 1849 and succeeded in unifying those of the faith here and organizing a church in 1852. In 1888, under the leader- ship of Rev. Peter De Bruyn, the Second Reformed Church was formed from among the younger members of the First Church and the English language employed.
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The Brighton Reformed Church, Blossom Road and Arbor- dale Avenue, was formed first in 1890, through the desire of resi- dents of Brighton Town to have a church nearer their homes.
The Unitarian Church in Rochester was organized August 17, 1841, although services had been conducted here as early as 1828, when Rev. William Ware preached; also Rev. James D. Grace. A small wooden building, formerly used by St. Lukes, was purchased and moved to Main Street West near Plymouth. This was aban- doned, however, and for a number of years the little group drifted. Not until the date of organization was any definite unification accomplished, then a board of trustees was elected, consisting of Dr. Matthew Brown, George F. Danforth, John Briggs, W. W. Allcott, H. B. Sherman and W. H. Swan. The first regular pastor was Rev. Rufus Ellis, who stayed one year, and during his pas- torate, on May 9, 1843, a church building was dedicated on Fitz- hugh Street. This building was burned November 10, 1859. An- other church on Fitzhugh Street was completed in 1866, and was used until 1883, when it was sold and is now part of the post- office site. The Unitarians then bought the Third Presbyterian property at Cortland and Temple streets. The pastors since Ellis have been Frederick W. Holland, Rufus H. Bacon, W. H. Doherty, W. H. Channing, Thomas Hyer, James Richardson, James K. Hosmer, Fitzgerald, Clay McCauley, E. H. Danforth, Newton M. Mann, William C. Gannett, Frank C. Doan. Reverend Gannett, now pastor emeritus, had a long and distinguished pastorate.
In 1838 the Universalists of Rochester organized a society and Rev. P. T. Abell was secured as pastor, followed by Charles San- derson, Jacob Chase, and Charles Hammond. A church organiza- tion was effected July 22, 1843. The property previously pur- chased at the corner of Court and Stone streets was sold in 1844, and then ensued a period when meetings were held in various halls. The society was incorporated in April 1846, and the next year a church building was finished on South Clinton Street near Main (Seneca Hotel site). This property, although extensive im- provements had been made through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. James Sargent, was sold in 1907 to a hotel corporation, and the present house of worship erected immediately afterward on the corner of Clinton Avenue and Court Street. Rev. G. W. Mont- gomery became pastor in 1845, and then followed J. H. Tuttle,
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1853; Asa Saxe, 1860, who continued as active pastor until 1897, then became pastor emeritus; L. H. Squires, 1897; I. P. Codding- ton, 1898; A. W. Grose, 1905; William W. Rose, 1918.
One of the earliest churches in Rochester was that of a Metho- dist Society organized by the few colored people of the village, in 1827, at a Ford Street school house. In 1836 an incorporation was effected under the title of African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. A church building was erected on Favor Street in 1831, which was replaced with a modern structure in 1906.
The Advent Christian Church of Rochester had its inception in 1843, when tent meetings were held on the east side of the river. Elder J. B. Cook was the first pastor, 1850-1853, although a church organization was not consummated until 1867, then was effected under the title of First Christian Church of Rochester. A church building was constructed on Hayward Avenue in 1907.
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