St Luke and St Simon Cyrene - Rochester, NY
Posted by: 
sagefemme
N 43° 09.274 W 077° 36.832
18T E 287477 N 4781296
An active and enlightened church community in the City Hall Historic District, downtown, Rochester, NY 14608
Waymark Code: WMDBQZ
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 12/21/2011
Views: 1
Established in 1817, and beginning construction of this church at 17 S Fitzhugh St in 1824, St Luke is the second oldest church in Rochester, and the oldest Episcopal church. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places within the boundaries of the City Hall Historic District: "S Fitzhugh St between W Broad and W Main Sts." (
visit link) Their early parishioners included Nathaniel Rochester (founder of Rochesterville) and Jonathan Child (Nathaniel's son-in-law and first mayor of Rochester).
St Simon's church was formed in 1921 specifically as an African-American church, and St Luke served as a temporary home for part of the time between 1921 and 1934, when their own building was constructed on Oregon St.
In 1988, the two churches merged. "Since the merger, St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene, or “Two Saints” has continued support of the Oregon-Leopold Daycare Center and the Right On School, as well as becoming active in LIFT Rochester, an organization working for continued urban renewal in Rochester, and the Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN), which runs a shelter for homeless families who need assistance while they return to work and/or housing. " (
visit link)