Churches of Rochester
St. William

St. William

Closed

Conesus, Livingston County

St. William Church was established as a mission in 1875 to serve the Catholic community in Conesus, a small town on the western shore of Conesus Lake in Livingston County. The church building was dedicated on November 25, 1876, providing a permanent spiritual home for the farming families in this rural Finger Lakes community.

Monsignor Joseph W. Hendrick provided early stability with a 14-year pastorate from 1884 to 1898. Father Thomas J. Harrington served the longest tenure, leading the parish for 33 years from 1920 until his death in 1953—a remarkable era that spanned both World Wars and the Great Depression.

Father Jerome F. Schifferli served for 17 years from 1972 to 1989, guiding the parish through the challenging post-Vatican II period. In its later years, St. William faced the difficulties common to small rural parishes, including declining membership and priest shortages.

St. William closed on March 11, 2004, merging with St. Joseph in nearby Livonia to form the new St. Matthew Parish. The merger reflected the broader trend of rural parish consolidation in the Diocese of Rochester, but also ensured that Catholics in western Livingston County would continue to have access to vibrant parish life.

Exterior Photographs

Exterior. Front of the church From right angle. From left angle.

Historical Photographs

Sanctuary, pre-Vatican II. Source: Parish directory, mid-2000s Sanctuary, post-Vatican II. Source: Parish directory, mid-2000s Sanctuary prior to closure. Source: Parish directory, mid-2000s Exterior, early 2000s? Source: Parish directory, mid-2000s Exterior while the church was still open, early 2000s.