Churches of Rochester

St. Patrick Church was established in 1869 to accommodate Elmira's growing Irish Catholic population, which had outgrown the city's original Catholic parish, Ss. Peter and Paul. Father Patrick Hopkins served as the first pastor but died just over a year later on July 9, 1870.

Father James J. Bloomer succeeded him and served an extraordinary 62 years until his death in 1932, guiding the parish through tremendous growth and change. The current church building was constructed in 1873, followed by a parochial residence, convent, and school complex built between 1884 and 1894. The school was designed in the Second Renaissance Revival style, and the entire complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Like all Chemung County diocesan parishes named St. Patrick, this church reflects the region's strong Irish Catholic heritage from the 19th century immigration waves. In 2018, St. Patrick became part of the Most Holy Name of Jesus parish that now encompasses all Catholic churches in the city of Elmira.

Church Information