About Us

About Us

Our Beliefs

We are a church that believes that the Bible is relevant for life in every age. Therefore, the Bible is the basis for all of our beliefs. However, we are also a confessional church that believes in being connected in doctrine to the many Christians who for thousands of years have lived by the Bible. As a church that is Biblical and Confessional, we seek to not only affirm our beliefs but live them out in our community.

We Believe…

  • Jesus Christ is God’s eternally begotten Son
  • Jesus Christ is the only way to fellowship with God
  • In Christ’s atoning death, bodily resurrection, and present reign as King of kings
  • Jesus will come again at the final day to judge all the world
  • The Holy Spirit works in us preparing our hearts for salvation. Jesus, the Savior, is the answer to all human problems, chief of which is man’s sinful breaking of God’s law. God the Father’s gift of faith in Jesus makes men whole and gives true purpose in life.
  • God’s Word is relevant; it speaks to our lives and needs daily. We are confident that your needs and the needs of your family can be met at Rochester Reformed Presbyterian Church as you hear and study God’s Word with us.

A full account of our beliefs is found in the Reformed Presbyterian Testimony which accompanies the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Our History

The Rochester Reformed Presbyterian Church, the first church plant of the St. Lawrence Presbytery in about a hundred years, began services as a mission station in 1976 after two years of Bible studies and meetings under the shepherding of the Syracuse Reformed Presbyterian Church.

It was organized as a full congregation of the RPCNA on Dec. 7, 1979.

The saints met for worship in homes, another church building, a hotel conference room, and two schools. This building was purchased in 2007.

The Lord's goodness and mercies have been abundant. He has sustained us and fed us and blessed us from small beginnings through difficult times and encouraging times, and to this happy day. Great is His faithfulness.

So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Romans 12:5

Our Name

What is Reformed?

The word “Reformed” points to the denomination’s historic roots in the Protestant Reformation, especially in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Britain, marked by a strong belief in the absolute authority of Scripture and the sovereignty of God in every area of life.

What is Presbyterian?

The word “Presbyterian” points to the way by which the church is governed. Christ alone is head of the church, and as its head He has called ‘elders’ who are elected by the congregation to lead His church. Rochester Reformed Presbyterian Church has a ‘session’ that consists of four ruling elders and one teaching elder (pastor). These elders are then part of two larger ruling bodies called a Presbytery, and then a Synod. This provides for a system of government that has many checks and balances so that Jesus remains central and no single group or person holds sole authority.

Our congregation is part of a larger Christian community called the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA).

Our Denomination

Rochester Reformed Presbyterian Church belongs to the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA).

Rochester RP Church is part of the St. Lawrence Presbytery, which includes congregations in upstate New York and Canada. For information about these churches, check out the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America website. 

Nearby Reformed Presbyterian Congregations

Rochester RP Church is one of a number of Reformed Presbyterian churches in the central and western New York area: