Church celebrates 125th anniversary
with historic commemorative worship service

Church of the Epiphany, 3285 Buffalo Road, Gates, will host a commemorative worship service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, as part of its 125th anniversary celebration. The order of service will follow that which was used in 1876. This re-enactment of a service based on the 1789 Book of Common Prayer will be presided over by the Right Rev. Jack M. McKelvey, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester. The guest preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Robert Page, retired seminary professor and former Epiphany interim rector.

The Church of the Epiphany was formally incorporated as a parish of the Diocese of Western New York on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 1876. It was established by the congregation of St. Luke's Episcopal Church (now St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene Church, Rochester). Epiphany's first church building stood on Jefferson Avenue on the west side of the City of Rochester.

Due to population changes in that part of the city and the exodus of many of its members to the suburbs, the congregation decided to relocate to Gates in the late 1950s. A new church building was dedicated in 1960 on Buffalo Road, and its first service there was held on Christmas Eve, 1960.

Through its 125-year existence, Church of the Epiphany has seen many changes in its history including two world wars, the Great Depression, the forming of a new diocese (Diocese of Rochester), liturgical changes, and the ordination of women. Since 1994, several women have served as rectors including the current rector, the Rev. Nancy Dunbar Stevens.