Church History 1847

Immaculate Conception Parish

1847 April – Bishop Timon established the Immaculate Conception to serve the growing Catholic population of the poor Irish immigrants.

The original church was the brick building facing Edinburgh Street and cost $4,500. Bishop Timon asked Bishop Canfield of Kildare,

Ireland for young men to work in the Buffalo Diocese. Fr. John Patrick volunteered to go to America and became the first pastor

of Immaculate Conception (1849-1852). He was ordained by Bishop Timon. Fr. Patrick moved on to establish many other parishes

in the western New York area.

1860 Rev. Peter Bede (County Langford, Ireland) was appointed pastor.

1864 The original church was destroyed by fire. The Union Advertiser reported that the fire started in a small house on Edinburgh Street and

spread to the church. The value of the church was quoted as $7,000. The water had to be brought up from the river, the

Union Advertiser stated “the want of water in the locality of this fire was fully realized last night” (UA F 24, 1864)

The parishioners used School House #3 for services.

July 11, Bishop Timon officiated at the laying of the corner stone of the new church (the present building).

August 6, the new Romansque church, which held 1,100 and faced Plymouth, was dedicated by Bishop Timon.

Rev. Patricio Byrnes (born Montevido, S.A.) was appointed pastor, a position which he held until his death on Good Friday 1875. Fr. Byrnes

established the Immaculate Conception School.

1870 The new parsonage beside the church facing Plymouth Avenue was erected with the great support of the parishioners. The UA reported

“the society of the Immaculate Conception, Third Ward, have with a most commendable spirit erected near the church a parsonage

creditable to the society and an ornament to the city.

The Immaculate Conception Parochial School known, as the Plymouth Avenue School for many years, was opened. The school was built on t

he Edinburgh side of the church and faced Plymouth Avenue. Cost: $15,000.

December 11, Fire broke out in the rear basement causing heavy damage. The fire was started by an unattended fire in the furnace and

spread quickly from the basement to the main area of the church, causing the floor to collapse.

The rebuilt church was opened.

1875 Rev. Michael Meager (born Tipperary, Ireland) was appointed pastor until his death in 1886

1886 The Edinburgh annex was built. Very Rev. James F. O’Hare, D.D., V.G. (born in Rochester) was appointed pastor. He was the first priest

ordained by Bishop McQuaid for the Rochester Diocese. He died in 1898 just before the golden jubilee of the parish.

1894 New parochial school and hall was dedicated; it faced Edinburgh Street and accommodated 250 pupils.

1898 Rev. Augustine M. O’Neill (born Auburn, New York) was appointed pastor of Immaculate. He served through it’s golden era. He expanded

it’s perimeters and erected a new school.

1899 THE GOLDEN JUBILEE

The property was now valued at $100,000. It consisted of a church, 2 school buildings, school hall and pastor’s residence, all made

of brick. The parish had about 4000 communicants each Sunday and the school had 900 pupils. New windows from the

Tyrolene Art Company of Europe were installed, a vestibule was added and the rectory enlarged.

1905 The convent on Greig Street was erected, one of the finest in the city with a room for each nun.

Most Rev. T. F. Hickey became the third bishop of Rochester.

1922 Rev. Joseph Cameron (born Hornell) was appointed pastor and served until his death in 1952. The church was redecorated under direction of Herman J. Butler of New York City for $9,368.00. Electric fixtures were installed for $3,306.17, and a tile floor was laid for $1,857.83.

1926 The new school that replaced the Edinburgh and Plymouth Avenue Schools was opened. It was constructed on reinforced concrete and

steel under the Shuster System which made the building virtually fireproofed. The school has 21 classrooms, offices and an auditorium

with a stage which seats 1000 plus, an anteroom that holds 400 and a fully equipped kitchen. Architect – Frank Frey.

1948 The church was redecorated by Herman J. Butler he was assisted by Attinasi Brothers.

1949 On December 11^th, Bishop Kearney celebrated a Pontifical High Mass ending the week long celebration of Immaculate Conception’s first one

hundred years of service as a parish.

1952 Monsignor Cameron dies. He was succeeded by the Very Rev. John S. Randall who served as pastor of Immaculate Conception until he retired in 1966.

1962 May 31, lightening strikes the 98 year old steeple on the church. Structural weaknesses caused by age and weathering

necessitated its removal. A small capped roof surmounted by a stainless steel cross covers the remains of the old steeple.