Churches of Rochester
Most Holy Redeemer

Most Holy Redeemer

Closed

City of Rochester, Monroe County

Most Holy Redeemer Church was established in 1867 to serve the German Catholic community in northeast Rochester. The parish was founded during a period of heavy German immigration to Rochester, when German-speaking Catholics sought parishes where they could worship in their native language and preserve their cultural traditions.

Father Fidelis C. Oberholzer served as the first pastor, leading the parish for an extraordinary 33 years from 1869 until his death in 1902. Under his guidance, the parish grew substantially, and the present church building—a Gothic-style structure befitting the German Catholic tradition—was dedicated on October 27, 1887.

Father Jacob Staub continued Father Oberholzer's legacy with a 21-year pastorate from 1902 to 1923. Monsignor F. William Stauder provided the next era of stability, serving for 32 years until his death in 1955. This pattern of long pastorates gave Most Holy Redeemer remarkable continuity—in its first 88 years, the parish had only three pastors.

As the German-American community assimilated and dispersed to the suburbs, the neighborhood around Hudson Avenue changed dramatically. Most Holy Redeemer closed on March 24, 1985, after 118 years of service to the Rochester Catholic community.

Exterior Photographs

Front of the church. Church seen from corner of Clifford and Hudson. Right side angle. Bell towers from right. Right side. Left side. Front left side. Concordia Hall. Narthex, freshly painted. Stained glass windows have all been replaced.

Historical Photographs

Photograph of old church, 1866/7. Source: Souvenir Book of the Golden Jubilee of the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 1867-1917 Photograph of old rectory. Source: Souvenir Book of the Golden Jubilee of the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 1867-1917 Old photograph of the interior. Source: Rochester Public Library, local history section. Interior of present church building, possibly taken in late 1800s. Source: Souvenir Book of the Golden Jubilee of the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 1867-1917 School built for new church. Source: Souvenir Book of the Golden Jubilee of the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 1867-1917 Convent built for new church. Source: Souvenir Book of the Golden Jubilee of the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 1867-1917 Postcard illustration of Holy Redeemer church and Concordia Hall. Source: Rochester Public Library. Exterior, 1939. Source: Catholic Courier Golden Jubilee Edition: 1889-1939 Photograph of Concordia Hall, which is still located behind the church. 1986? Source: Rochester Public Library. Photograph taken in front of the church, 1980s. Some vandalism to the stained glass windows. Source: Rochester Public Library. Photograph taken from Clifford Ave. 1986. Source: Rochester Public Library. Aerial view. Source: Microsoft Live Earth Interior of church today. Source: Northside Church of Christ Web site (defunct)