A Historic Parish on Westminster Road
St. Paul's Episcopal Church has stood at 25 Westminster Road in Rochester since 1827, occupying a neighborhood of impressive historic homes, churches from several denominations, and structures built in an earlier era. Members describe it as an urban-suburban parish with a long, distinguished history, and for close to two centuries the congregation has sought to make God's message of hope and love known in the Rochester community. Today the parish continues that work as a vibrant and inclusive community committed to prayer and worship, lifelong Christian learning, community engagement and outreach, and compassionate care for one another and for the world.
Sunday Worship and the Cathedral-Style Interior
Sunday worship at St. Paul's centers on two principal services held under the parish's cathedral-style architecture. At 8:00 am, Holy Communion is offered in the smaller Chantry, a quieter setting for those who prefer an earlier and more contemplative service. At 10:15 am, the principal Holy Communion with Music gathers the full congregation, with the parish's superb choral music enhanced by the historic E.M. Skinner organ. ASL interpretation is offered at the 10:15 am service every Sunday, and the service is livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel. A weekly bulletin is available online. On Wednesdays at noon, a Noonday Eucharist is held in St. Peter's Chapel. During the summer months from June through August, an additional 5:30 pm service is offered on Thursdays in Paul's Cross.
An Historic Skinner Organ and a Treasured Building
The building itself is a defining feature of parish life. St. Paul's is home to a historic E.M. Skinner pipe organ, built in 1927 and restored in 2012, which anchors the music program and supports worship throughout the year. The instrument joins a Wissinger continuo organ, three grand pianos, and two sets of handbells in the parish's musical resources. Members of the parish consistently point to the inspiring worship space as one of the defining gifts of St. Paul's, a setting where liturgical worship, choral music, and architectural beauty come together week after week.
A Music Program That Reaches Beyond the Parish
Music at St. Paul's reaches well beyond the Sunday congregation. Under the direction of Dr. John Sherer, the music program includes a fine adult choir and a newly revitalized choir for children and youth, with a bell choir rounding out the parish's musical groups. Numerous gifted instrumentalists from the parish contribute to services throughout the year. The parish hosts "If Music Be the Food," an outreach concert series begun in 2008 that brings together professional musicians and students to benefit Rochester's Foodlink. Each season features three chamber music concerts; the price of admission is any non-perishable food item, with cash donations also welcome. Over ten seasons the series has gathered roughly $25,000 in cash donations and nearly ten tons of food. Organ recitals by the music staff and students from the Eastman School of Music, along with special services by the St. Paul's choirs, fill out the season. Third Sundays at 3 pm concerts and the Rochester Fringe Festival also bring community performers and audiences through the parish's doors.
Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
St. Paul's takes seriously its calling to form the faith of children and youth. Sunday School meets during the 10:00 am hour for children in preschool through fifth grade, with an age-appropriate curriculum that uses music, prayer, games, crafts, and snacks to engage children in the weekly Bible stories. During the procession, children join their teachers from their pews to the classrooms and return to their families before Communion. Nursery care is available at the 10:00 am Sunday service and on special occasions for infants and toddlers. A re-formed youth group for middle and high school students builds community and explores God's presence in their lives through fellowship and learning. Family Ministries gathers young families for meals, fellowship, and outings at family-friendly places around the area. The Memorial Scholarship Fund, created as a living memorial to parishioners who gave their lives in the Second World War, continues to support young parishioners as they pursue higher education.
Adult Formation and Lifelong Learning
The Sunday Forum at 9:00 am offers a range of programs in theological, spiritual, and biblical education. Past offerings have included Episcopalian 101, Parables, the Church after the Disciples, the Cosmic Christ, and Saints (ancient and modern). The forum draws on diverse voices and formats to serve members with different interests and needs, helping members link their faith to daily life, reflect on their own experiences through liturgy, mission, evangelism, stewardship, and service, and put Christian faith in dialogue with other traditions. Other formation opportunities, offered as needs or interests arise, include book groups, retreats, and the annual Lenten Soup 'n Study. Notices, bulletin boards, and the TV in the Parish Hall carry the latest schedule.
Pastoral Care and Prayer
The clergy of St. Paul's are available to walk with parishioners through births, illnesses, the death of a loved one, and any other need or celebration. Conversations are always confidential. Healing prayers are offered at the Wednesday Noon Eucharist, and on the first Sunday of the month lay ministers and clergy offer healing prayer during the time of Communion. Prayer lists allow the congregation to intercede for loved ones; names are generally kept on the list for one month. A wider circle of caring ministries surrounds the parish, including Altar Flower Delivery, Prayer Shawl, Transportation, and Eucharistic Visitors, with lay people and clergy working together to support members.
Worship Ministries for Members
Worship at St. Paul's draws on a wide circle of lay people who serve as acolytes, altar guild members, Eucharistic ministers, readers, greeters, and ushers, as well as members of the choirs and bell choir. This involvement reflects the parish's conviction that worship is at the heart of who St. Paul's is and what it does, and that it both inspires individuals and empowers the parish's varied ministries.
Life Events: Weddings, Baptisms, and Funerals
Members and non-members alike mark the major events of their lives at St. Paul's. Couples interested in being married at the church are invited to contact the Wedding Coordinator to schedule a meeting, see the church, and receive information on costs and requirements. Holy Baptism, whether for children or adults, is the sacrament by which God adopts the baptized as God's children and makes them members of the Church, with water and oil used to signify new birth. Funerals are a blessed time for family and friends to gather and give thanks for the life of someone they have loved; arrangements are made in consultation with the clergy.
Reaching Out Beyond the Parish
St. Paul's carries a long tradition of generosity toward its neighbors. The Outreach Council provides financial support on behalf of the parish to a wide variety of community needs, both locally and beyond, and welcomes applications from non-profit organizations. As part of a community-wide ecumenical effort, St. Paul's volunteers prepare and serve a hot meal for up to 100 people who are among the working poor, unemployed, and homeless on the first Saturday of each month from September through June at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality on South Avenue. The parish shares common values with St. Paul's Child Care Center, a separate and distinct 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that provides care for children from 8 weeks to 5 years, including full-day Universal Pre-Kindergarten, in a non-denominational setting. The parish also acknowledges that it resides within the ancestral and traditional lands of the Onondowahga, the Seneca people of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and seeks to honor the Indigenous individuals and communities who live in the area today.
Becoming Part of St. Paul's
St. Paul's welcomes all who long to know God's reign of mercy and love and invites believers, seekers, and skeptics alike to participate in worship. Members of other Episcopal parishes need only share the name of their former parish so that a Letter of Transfer can be requested. Those from another Christian tradition who have been baptized may have their baptism recorded at St. Paul's by completing a simple form. Those who have not been baptized may request baptism by making an appointment to speak with a member of the clergy.
Visiting the Parish
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Handicap accessible parking is available in the parish parking lot. Street parking is also available, and additional parking can be found in the George Eastman Museum lot across the street, with parish lot parking available for those of all mobility the rest of the week. St. Paul's also opens its doors to the community for receptions, concerts, religious services, workshops, weddings, and other events through its facility rental program. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the regular services, online or in person.