Stepping into Historic Rochester

Stepping into Historic Rochester. Churches. , As people began to immigrate here, they brought with them their culture and, most importantly, their religious beliefs. The earliest settlers generally met in each other's homes because they did not have the means to build places of worship and the congregations were small. Served by travelling ministers, the congregations began to grow until the first established church was Trinity Episcopal in 1851. Over the years many other churches proudly followed. Today, Rochester boasts a variety of religious denominations whose buildings are landmarks within our town inspiring to all who pass by., The First Presbyterian Church 1873 , Organized by the Presbytery of Allegheny, the church edifice was erected in 1874 between Jefferson Street and North Park Street. Reverend E. P. Lewis served as the first pastor., The United Presbyterian Church 1898 , The congregation was organized under the leadership of Reverend James F. Ray in 1898. Located at the junction of East Washington Street and Pinney Street, the church was dedicated in 1903., Churches Before 1950 No Longer Standing , Madison Street Baptist Church . 1893 , Zion Evangelical Church . 1857 , First Congregational Church . 1895. , Trinity Episcopal Church 1851 , The church was organized by Reverend W. H. Paddock in 1851. In 1855-1856 a building was constructed at the corner of New York Avenue and Jackson Street., St. Paul's Evangelical Church 1856 , It began as the Rochester German Reformed Church in 1856 on Adams Street between New York and Pennsylvania Avenue. In the summer of 1867, the German congregation in Bridgewater and Rochester merged. A new building was erected at the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Adams Street and occupied in 1868., Part of the congregation split away and formed the German Evangelical Protestant Church in 1894 at the corner of Reno Street and Ohio Avenue., Free Methodist Church 1888 , The church was organized and chartered in 1889 by the Reverend Solomon Portman. A newly built church at 464 East Madison Street was dedicated in 1892., First Wesleyan Church 1906 , Due to the efforts of two ladies in the community, the church was organized by Elder P. B. Campbell in 1906. It met in various locations until property was purchased in 1955 and a church was built at the corner of New York Avenue and Webster Street., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 1856 , Reverend Dr. W. A. Passavant of Pittsburgh organized the church in 1854. The building was erected in 1855 at the corner of Ohio Avenue and Adams Street and occupied in 1856., The First United Methodist Church 1864 , Beginning as a Sunday school in 1864, the church was incorporated in 1869 under pastor Reverend Lewis Paine. The church building was constructed at the corner of Jefferson Street and Vermont Avenue., The Second Baptist Church 1894 , Organized in 1894, by the Reverend John Jones, the church was recognized and accepted into the fellowship of the Pittsburgh Baptist Association. In 1902 a property at the corner of Clay Street and Irvin Avenue was purchased and the church was built., Tree of Life Congregation 1922 , The first religious group of Rochester Jewry was formed in 1922. The Synagogue at the corner of New York Avenue and Pinney Street was dedicated in 1928., St. Cecelia's Catholic Church 1856 , With the help of Father John Stiebel and Father Lawrence Holtzer, a small group of German familles built the first church in 1856. It was built on East Washington Street on land donated by Ovid Pinney., St. Pudentiana Catholic Church located on California Avenue in Rochester Township was dedicated in 1921. In the 1940s it became a full time part of St. Cecelia's Parish., The First Baptist Church 1873 , A group of Baptists came together to form a church organization under the leadership of Reverend J. A. Snodgrass in 1873. The house of worship was built at the corner of Adams Street and Vermont Avenue and dedicated in 1875., United Brethren Church 1898 , The United Brethren Church was originally built in 1898 and later purchased by St. Lukes Community Church in 1914. It is located at the corner of Lacock and 4th Street in East Rochester., The Rochester Salvation Army 1923 , The Rochester Corps under the command of Captain Kelly and Lieutenant Carter commenced operations in 1923 at the corner of Jackson Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. It has continued to serve the community from various locations to the present day.