Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester
The Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester stands as a vibrant spiritual and cultural landmark shaped by over two centuries of faith, social action, and architectural evolution. Formed in 1974 through the merger of three historic congregations鈥擣irst, Brick, and Central Presbyterian鈥攖he church represents a legacy of deep community involvement and progressive vision. Its current home, originally constructed in 1860 in the Early Romanesque Revival style by architect Andrew Jackson Warner, was later redesigned by his son, J. Foster Warner, in the Lombard Romanesque tradition. The complex includes the restored sanctuary, the Brick Church Institute (1909鈥�1910), and Taylor Chapel (1941), and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
The church鈥檚 history traces back to 1815 when Hannah Scrantom and Julia Wheelock began holding services in the nascent village of Rochesterville. From the First Presbyterian Church sprang several congregations that helped shape Rochester's religious and civic life, including Bethel and Second Presbyterian Churches, later known as Central and Brick.
Beyond its architectural and institutional significance, Downtown Church has long stood at the forefront of social justice. It hosted one of the first worship radio broadcasts in 1930 and helped develop nationally recognized arts programming such as the Religious Arts Festival and Katie鈥檚 House, a pioneering children's TV show.
Today, the Downtown United Presbyterian Church remains a living expression of its founding values. Its complex continues to serve as a hub for collaboration, including shared space with Spiritus Christi Church, while honoring its long-standing commitment to faith, creativity, and radical hospitality.
The church鈥檚 history traces back to 1815 when Hannah Scrantom and Julia Wheelock began holding services in the nascent village of Rochesterville. From the First Presbyterian Church sprang several congregations that helped shape Rochester's religious and civic life, including Bethel and Second Presbyterian Churches, later known as Central and Brick.
Beyond its architectural and institutional significance, Downtown Church has long stood at the forefront of social justice. It hosted one of the first worship radio broadcasts in 1930 and helped develop nationally recognized arts programming such as the Religious Arts Festival and Katie鈥檚 House, a pioneering children's TV show.
Today, the Downtown United Presbyterian Church remains a living expression of its founding values. Its complex continues to serve as a hub for collaboration, including shared space with Spiritus Christi Church, while honoring its long-standing commitment to faith, creativity, and radical hospitality.
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Downtown United Presbyterian Church on Map
Sight Name: Downtown United Presbyterian Church
Sight Location: Rochester, USA (See walking tours in Rochester)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Rochester, USA (See walking tours in Rochester)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Rochester, New York
Create Your Own Walk in Rochester
Creating your own self-guided walk in Rochester is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Churches
The city of Rochester's community is diverse, with many religious denominations coexisting peacefully within its borders. The spiritual attitude of locals is duly reflected by the historic churches, their congregations and architectural elements. A good number of places of worship found in the city are designated historic sites. Here are some of the most prominent of them.
Downtown United... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Downtown United... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Rochester Introduction Walking Tour
Rochester is New York's third-biggest city. The location of the Genessee River helped to establish Rochester as a mill town early in its history. English settlers arrived in the area that would become the city when the Iroquois tribe ceded their territory after the American Revolution.
The Eerie Canal construction in the 1820s helped the city grow into an urban center that would set the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
The Eerie Canal construction in the 1820s helped the city grow into an urban center that would set the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Historical Industrial Buildings
Once a major manufacturing center, Rochester, NY went down in history as one of the United States' first boom-towns. Back in between 1860 and 1900 the city's population grew threefold on the back of the inflow of numerous immigrants 鈥� Italians, Germans, Irish and others 鈥� that saw Rochester expand dramatically on both sides of the Genesee River. During that period the city rose to... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles