HISTORY

Our Earliest Days

The First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, at One Symphony Circle, is the home of Buffalo's oldest congregation and the "mother church" of several more. Founded on February 2, 1812, by missionaries to the Senecas and veterans of the Revolutionary War, it was incorporated as the First Presbyterian Society of the Town of Buffalo in 1815. The founders were pioneers who had endured the lawlessness of the little settlement at Buffalo, complicated by the War of 1812, with battles raging on both sides of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. There are stories of suffering and heroism by the families and neighbors of First Church during the several years surrounding the conflict with Great Britain. One of the most recounted is that of Deacon Amos Callender, who escaped with the church records on horseback to Batavia as the British were burning Buffalo in January of 1813.

The congregation has known three homes; the first was a small lecture hall built in 1823 on a tract of land located at Church, Pearl, and Main Streets. At a cost of $874, it measured 40 by 50 feet and was heated only by pans of coals brought in by parishioners. The first pastor was the austere Rev. Miles P. Squier, who served the congregation from 1816 to 1824.

After the Erie Canal opened, the village of Buffalo experienced an increase in population, resulting in an increased First Church membership. The second church, known as the "Brick Church," was built at Shelton Square, in the current location of Main Place Tower. It was dedicated in March 1827. It featured a clock and bell tower beneath a golden ball that blazed in the sun and served as a landmark for mariners. It was the largest church west of the Genesee River at the time.

An Architectural Jewel

By the mid-19th century, businesses surrounded the Brick Church in downtown Buffalo. Many parishioners had moved to the outlying areas where other churches had become established. Under the leadership of Rev. Samuel S. Mitchell, D. D., the trustees decided it was time to move. Not all members agreed, however, and the matter was eventually resolved in court. At that point, Mrs. Truman Avery donated the land at the corner of Pennsylvania and Wadsworth Streets for the new building, in memory of her parents. Famed architect E. B. Green designed the magnificent building with its signature tower as the southern bookend of Richmond Avenue, mirroring the towers of the Richardson Complex to the north. Completed in 1897, the 168-foot tower continues to be one of Buffalo's architectural treasures. The overall form of the building on Symphony Circle is Romanesque and features a medina sandstone exterior. The interior design of the sanctuary reflects a mostly Byzantine influence, while the chapel features an Anglican country tradition. The beautiful stained-glass windows have been done by four different companies, most notably Tiffany. (For more information on the architectural details of First Church, click here.)

Centuries of Impact

For the past 200 years, First Church has inspired and guided the development of institutions and programs that have enriched the entire city of Buffalo. The Buffalo Female Academy, now Buffalo Seminary, and the first city high school, the Western Literary and Scientific Academy, were organized in part by the third pastor of First Church, Rev. Sylvester Eaton. The Visiting Nurses Association, now the largest home health service in Western New York, was started by member Elizabeth C. Marshall in 1885. In 1894, under the direction of Dr. Samuel S. Mitchell, and with the cooperation of the Charity Organization Society, the church built and operated Welcome Hall on Seneca and Cedar Streets. Welcome Hall housed the congregation's refugee resettlement and other mission projects until the city took it over during the Great Depression.

The 20th century saw growth for the congregation of First Church as well as for its mission locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition to their spiritual and administrative leadership, dynamic First Church ministers, such as Rev. Ralph Blake Hindman, D.D., were integrally involved in Buffalo civic causes and social movements. The congregation of First Church, like its pastors, has always risen to the challenge of making the world a better place. From the financial support of a medical mission in China in the early 1900s, through world wars and natural disasters, to countless issues stemming from urban poverty, its faithful members have always responded to people in need.

To this day, historic First Church remains a beacon of hope within our city, providing a variety of support within a diverse community. Its physical presence is also an architectural jewel studded with priceless stained-glass windows and interior decorations—a cultural treasure for the community as well as the congregation. Now in its third century, the commitment of First Church to serve God remains unwavering.

Ancestry Information Request

First Church has a trove of historical membership, baptismal, and marriage records for our centuries of congregants. As a service to our community, we entertain requests for the information held in our records for ancestral research purposes.

Note that proof of baptism will consist of a form letter with applicable information verified in Session records printed on church letterhead, signed by the clerk of Session, and embossed with the church seal.

Note also that a certificate of marriage from our records does not qualify for legal purposes. For official marriage licenses from the City of Buffalo, click here.

To request proof of baptism or marriage, please click below, to complete and submit the form.

Please allow two weeks for ancestry request responses.