Historical Churches (Self Guided), Rochester

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 Presbyterian Church – a historic brick complex designed in 1860 as an Early Romanesque Revival–style edifice; has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1992.

St Mary's Church, dedicated in 1858, is the place where celebrated actress and ballerina Giuseppina Morlacchi and cowboy scout and actor Texas Jack Omohundro got married on August 31st 1873. Complete with its brick rectory (built in 1905), the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March 1992.

First Universalist Church – a Romanesque Revival-style building described by notes at The Library of Congress as "Unified in concept, harmonious in proportions and color, the major portion of the structure remains essentially unaltered." Added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 1971.

Christ Church – a large Gothic Revival-style building made of "rock-faced red Albion sandstone" – was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church – a historic French Romanesque Revival-style brick cruciform-plan church built in 1868; was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

To learn the stories behind and to explore architectural marvels of these and other religious venues of Rochester in more detail, take this self-guided walking tour.