First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Rising above a downtown Rochester area reshaped by road construction and cleared lots, this vine-clad church on South Plymouth Avenue is built of Albion sandstone trimmed with white Medina stone. A single bell-tower and spire stands beside the main entrance, and large tracery stained glass windows mark the east and west ends. The roofs are steeply pitched and covered in patterned slate, and the interior features black walnut woodwork and trusses. Andrew J. Warner designed it in 1871, and it was built in 1871-72 after a fire damaged the congregation's previous church in 1869. Warner belonged to Rochester's foremost architectural family, and his practice was continued by his son J. Foster Warner. The church is the third home of the city's oldest congregation, organized in 1815 under Rev. Comfort Williams. A Tiffany window was added in 1930, and the interior was restored in 1939. The exterior remains unchanged, and the building still serves worshippers and community groups.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a monumental work by Andrew J. Warner, a leading Rochester architect whose family practice shaped the city for over sixty years. It is the third church of Rochester's oldest congregation, founded in 1815, and its construction after a fire in 1869 reflects the support of an affluent congregation. It remains largely unchanged on the exterior and is still in use.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001202, listed October 25, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 101 S. Plymouth Ave., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | October 25, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001202 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1871) |
| Architect / builder | Andrew J. Warner |
| Architectural style | Gothic-inspired |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition, unaltered on the exterior, still in use as a church and by neighborhood and community groups. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.15296, -77.61526 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001202.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453626
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.