OUR HISTORY
St George’s Episcopal Church
1886-2016
130 Years
St. George's Mission was founded in June 1886 with the first services held in the “Old Rink” located at the corner of Stutson St. and Broadway (later renamed Latta Rd.), Rochester, NY, purchased by the Rochester Episcopal Diocese. Reverend John Perkins was missionary until 1889 during which time twenty-five people were baptized and twelve were confirmed.
On October 18, 1891 the parish broke ground for a new church building. The new church formally opened on February 28, 1892 and was admitted to the Rochester Episcopal Diocese on May 2, 1896. The parish had fifty-six adult members and fifty-one children.
During the early 1900's a Women’s Auxiliary, along with a Men’s Club and a Jr. Auxiliary for young, confirmed girls, was established. In 1918, when the US entered World War I, the Women’s Auxiliary helped the Red Cross roll bandages and knitted warm woolen items to send to the American soldiers in Europe. The parish continued to grow and prosper. By 1919 it was apparent that the church needed more room and in June 1920, a 25 foot addition to the church, to be known as the “Peace Chancel”, was completed.
1930 began the “Great Depression” which caused the parish many challenges. However their trust in God was great and failure was not something they would accept. They believed God would provide and were grateful to be able to meet their obligations. On January 3, 1936, in honor of their 50th Anniversary, St George’s became incorporated and St. George’s Mission became St. George’s Church of Charlotte.
In 1940, with World War II just beginning, more people turned to the church. In September of that year ninety-one children were enrolled in the Sunday School Program and that following January, fifteen new families joined the church. By February 1944 the church was debt free. On May 7, 1945 World War II ended and by Christmas the majority of military service people had returned home. In 1946, sixty years after the founding of St George’s, the parish had doubled and again more space was needed. In 1948 the “Old Rink“ was demolished and plans for a Parish Hall were started. In 1950 four services were held on Easter Sunday because the church was so small. Groundbreaking for the new structure took place on May 24, 1950. The last service in the old church was January 14, 1951, its space to be used as a chapel and classrooms. On Easter Sunday 1951 three services were held with 450 people in attendance.
The parish continued to grow. In 1953 one hundred seventy one children were registered for the Sunday School Program and a staff of twenty three were needed. In 1954, six hundred baptized members were counted with an average service attendance of four hundred thirty at two services. In 1957, seven hundred people attended the Christmas service and six hundred-forty were at the Easter service. By 1959, six hundred twenty-nine parishioners were listed on the parish roll.
During the 1960’s the Acolytes' group at St. George’s had twelve young men of high school age. Each young man had been given the opportunity to enter as a beginner after confirmation. They served each Sunday, Holy Days, when school permitted, at baptisms, weddings, and funerals. They considered it an honor to serve their church and the Lord.
In 1965, renovations to the church included construction of seven new classrooms, one restroom, installation of new windows and exits, work on the heating system, and placement of the “St. George Slaying the Dragon” plaque on the front of the church. In 1966 the Bishop confirmed 30 new Episcopalians and the first woman was elected to the Vestry.
In 1969, Reverend Norman Chancey Swanson Goldring died suddenly. Padré, as he was known, came to the parish in 1947 and was beloved by everyone, including the Rochester Episcopal Diocese. He led the church as Rector for 22 years and had a way about him that made you feel warm and welcomed the first time you walked into the church and met him. The entire parish was in a state of shock. Reverend Robert E. Clark was called to be the new Rector with his first service held on October 5, 1969.
Shortly after Padré’s death, the church began a decline. In 1969, the parish roll showed 750 members. By 1972 the numbers had dropped. Although seventy-three children were registered, the average attendance was forty-seven. Choir attendance diminished and there were fewer Acolytes. Finances became a challenge as the parish dwindled. In 1973 Playcare Daycare was allowed to rent the undercroft. By 1974 numbers had declined to 373 members. Reverend Clark left the parish on February 1, 1978. The Vestry knew they had to do something. After much discussion, the parish voted to remain a church and the Rochester Episcopal Diocese was asked for help. Diocesan funds were used to call Reverend Byron Roy as Priest-in-Charge. He started on July 1978. In 1979, we experienced a turnaround. Some of the former members returned and new members were joining the church. Sunday School enrollment was growing again and a Daughters of the King Chapter was begun. In 1980 we terminated our contract with Playcare Daycare because we needed the space.
In the late 1980’s, Monroe County and the City of Rochester, looking to expand, sought the purchase of a portion of our church property. It was at this time the decision was made to move the church to Hilton, only 10 miles from the current location. In 1988 a parcel of land was purchased for the new church and plans were started. The first service in the new church was held on October 13, 1991.
Father Roy resigned in 1992 and the Reverend James Craig was called to be the Rector. In 1996 Father Craig was called to his home parish in Massachusetts. After another search, Reverend Michael Burke was chosen as Rector. He was with the church until 2000 when he was called to a parish in Alaska. His departure was the beginning of another decline in parishioners. By the spring of 2006 the parish could no longer support a full time priest.
After several years of part-time priests and struggling to keep the church open, the Vestry knew something had to change. In 2011 the Vestry and the Strategic Planning Committee met to develop a plan to be presented to the Rochester Episcopal Diocese asking for help to keep the church solvent while they worked to build the congregation back up and become sustainable. The parish received a grant in 2012 at which time we called Reverend Paul Frolick to be the Priest-in-Charge. In 2014 we called him to be our Rector.
With Reverend Paul our parish grew. Since 2012 we have added a few members to our parish roll each year. We started with six children in our Sunday School Program. In 2014 we had ten children registered for Sunday School and in September of 2015 we registered sixteen children and added a toddler room. The parish has erected a flagpole on the property, refurbished our sign, and planted sunflowers along our borders. We supplied food to the food shelf from our garden and 1000 boxes of macaroni and cheese with other donations, delivered baskets to the needy at holiday time and shared cookies with our shut-ins.
In April of 2018, Reverend Paul was called to a church in Liverpool NY. We are now in search of a rector. St. George's has enjoyed good times and struggled through some tough times. Starting as “The Charlotte Mission,” we are now “St. George’s Episcopal Church” in Hilton. Our mission is the same, bringing God’s love to the community and life to our parish. Through faith, spirit, hard work and love for St. George’s Church, we will fight to pass this legacy on to another generation as did the first parish family of St. George’s Mission in 1886.
Information found in A History of St. Georges Episcopal Church by Virginia Couch and History of St. George’s Episcopal Church by Virginia Tyler Smith
On October 18, 1891 the parish broke ground for a new church building. The new church formally opened on February 28, 1892 and was admitted to the Rochester Episcopal Diocese on May 2, 1896. The parish had fifty-six adult members and fifty-one children.
During the early 1900's a Women’s Auxiliary, along with a Men’s Club and a Jr. Auxiliary for young, confirmed girls, was established. In 1918, when the US entered World War I, the Women’s Auxiliary helped the Red Cross roll bandages and knitted warm woolen items to send to the American soldiers in Europe. The parish continued to grow and prosper. By 1919 it was apparent that the church needed more room and in June 1920, a 25 foot addition to the church, to be known as the “Peace Chancel”, was completed.
1930 began the “Great Depression” which caused the parish many challenges. However their trust in God was great and failure was not something they would accept. They believed God would provide and were grateful to be able to meet their obligations. On January 3, 1936, in honor of their 50th Anniversary, St George’s became incorporated and St. George’s Mission became St. George’s Church of Charlotte.
In 1940, with World War II just beginning, more people turned to the church. In September of that year ninety-one children were enrolled in the Sunday School Program and that following January, fifteen new families joined the church. By February 1944 the church was debt free. On May 7, 1945 World War II ended and by Christmas the majority of military service people had returned home. In 1946, sixty years after the founding of St George’s, the parish had doubled and again more space was needed. In 1948 the “Old Rink“ was demolished and plans for a Parish Hall were started. In 1950 four services were held on Easter Sunday because the church was so small. Groundbreaking for the new structure took place on May 24, 1950. The last service in the old church was January 14, 1951, its space to be used as a chapel and classrooms. On Easter Sunday 1951 three services were held with 450 people in attendance.
The parish continued to grow. In 1953 one hundred seventy one children were registered for the Sunday School Program and a staff of twenty three were needed. In 1954, six hundred baptized members were counted with an average service attendance of four hundred thirty at two services. In 1957, seven hundred people attended the Christmas service and six hundred-forty were at the Easter service. By 1959, six hundred twenty-nine parishioners were listed on the parish roll.
During the 1960’s the Acolytes' group at St. George’s had twelve young men of high school age. Each young man had been given the opportunity to enter as a beginner after confirmation. They served each Sunday, Holy Days, when school permitted, at baptisms, weddings, and funerals. They considered it an honor to serve their church and the Lord.
In 1965, renovations to the church included construction of seven new classrooms, one restroom, installation of new windows and exits, work on the heating system, and placement of the “St. George Slaying the Dragon” plaque on the front of the church. In 1966 the Bishop confirmed 30 new Episcopalians and the first woman was elected to the Vestry.
In 1969, Reverend Norman Chancey Swanson Goldring died suddenly. Padré, as he was known, came to the parish in 1947 and was beloved by everyone, including the Rochester Episcopal Diocese. He led the church as Rector for 22 years and had a way about him that made you feel warm and welcomed the first time you walked into the church and met him. The entire parish was in a state of shock. Reverend Robert E. Clark was called to be the new Rector with his first service held on October 5, 1969.
Shortly after Padré’s death, the church began a decline. In 1969, the parish roll showed 750 members. By 1972 the numbers had dropped. Although seventy-three children were registered, the average attendance was forty-seven. Choir attendance diminished and there were fewer Acolytes. Finances became a challenge as the parish dwindled. In 1973 Playcare Daycare was allowed to rent the undercroft. By 1974 numbers had declined to 373 members. Reverend Clark left the parish on February 1, 1978. The Vestry knew they had to do something. After much discussion, the parish voted to remain a church and the Rochester Episcopal Diocese was asked for help. Diocesan funds were used to call Reverend Byron Roy as Priest-in-Charge. He started on July 1978. In 1979, we experienced a turnaround. Some of the former members returned and new members were joining the church. Sunday School enrollment was growing again and a Daughters of the King Chapter was begun. In 1980 we terminated our contract with Playcare Daycare because we needed the space.
In the late 1980’s, Monroe County and the City of Rochester, looking to expand, sought the purchase of a portion of our church property. It was at this time the decision was made to move the church to Hilton, only 10 miles from the current location. In 1988 a parcel of land was purchased for the new church and plans were started. The first service in the new church was held on October 13, 1991.
Father Roy resigned in 1992 and the Reverend James Craig was called to be the Rector. In 1996 Father Craig was called to his home parish in Massachusetts. After another search, Reverend Michael Burke was chosen as Rector. He was with the church until 2000 when he was called to a parish in Alaska. His departure was the beginning of another decline in parishioners. By the spring of 2006 the parish could no longer support a full time priest.
After several years of part-time priests and struggling to keep the church open, the Vestry knew something had to change. In 2011 the Vestry and the Strategic Planning Committee met to develop a plan to be presented to the Rochester Episcopal Diocese asking for help to keep the church solvent while they worked to build the congregation back up and become sustainable. The parish received a grant in 2012 at which time we called Reverend Paul Frolick to be the Priest-in-Charge. In 2014 we called him to be our Rector.
With Reverend Paul our parish grew. Since 2012 we have added a few members to our parish roll each year. We started with six children in our Sunday School Program. In 2014 we had ten children registered for Sunday School and in September of 2015 we registered sixteen children and added a toddler room. The parish has erected a flagpole on the property, refurbished our sign, and planted sunflowers along our borders. We supplied food to the food shelf from our garden and 1000 boxes of macaroni and cheese with other donations, delivered baskets to the needy at holiday time and shared cookies with our shut-ins.
In April of 2018, Reverend Paul was called to a church in Liverpool NY. We are now in search of a rector. St. George's has enjoyed good times and struggled through some tough times. Starting as “The Charlotte Mission,” we are now “St. George’s Episcopal Church” in Hilton. Our mission is the same, bringing God’s love to the community and life to our parish. Through faith, spirit, hard work and love for St. George’s Church, we will fight to pass this legacy on to another generation as did the first parish family of St. George’s Mission in 1886.
Information found in A History of St. Georges Episcopal Church by Virginia Couch and History of St. George’s Episcopal Church by Virginia Tyler Smith