About Us

• You will find our worship service to be a time of reflection, inspiration, joy, edification and peace.
• You may reflect on your life's experiences over the past week and be inspired to live life to the fullest in the next week.
• You will find great joy as you come to know that you are a child of God, loved with boundless love.
• You will be edified by the great truths that have come to us over the centuries through the Holy Scriptures.
• You will leave with the hope of peace in your heart knowing that wherever you are, whatever you do, our loving and compassionate God is with you, and strengthens and supports you all the day long!

We invite you to come and see how God can change you life!

Third Church strives to be a faithful, open and inclusive congregaton. We are a diverse people united by a common faith in Jesus Chirst and by meaningful worship and service. We invite all who are seeking to live a life of Christian faith and discipleship to join us.

Third Church is a participant in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Commitment to Peacemaking. Our intention is to pursue avenues of peace and justice for ourselves, our families and communities, for all people in the world in which we live. We seek to be agents of reconciliation. (see World Peace Making and Mission)

Third Church has joined with other like-minded Presbyterian congregations in declaring ourselves to be a "More Light" church. We are committed to the full participation of all persons in our church community without regard for sexual orientation, personal background or human condition. (see More Light)

Worship -

Third Church Sunday “Construction” Schedule:

* 9:00am Worship in the Third Church Chapel
* 10:00am Adult Faith Development (at RMSC in the Bausch Auditorium), Junior Choir (Third Church Chapel)
* 11:15am Worship at the Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word; church school children will participate in the first part of the service
* 11:30am Church School start time in the Third Church Education Building

The church is wheelchair accessible.
Nursery Care is available during worship.

See the Parking Map

Since the worship schedule may vary due to special events, you may request our worship schedule by calling us at 585-271-6513 or sending an e-mail to the church office.

See the beautiful and historic stained glass windows of Third Church.

Membership

Prior to joining Third Church, prospective new members must attend a class that is designed to give an overview of worship and the sacraments. Classes are led by the clergy staff and members of the new-member committee.

Individuals join by letter of transfer, reaffirmation of faith, or profession of faith. Find out more about joining Third Presbyterian!

History

As you might guess, "Third Church" was indeed the third Presbyterian congregation in Rochester. "First" and "Second" no longer exist under those names. Third Presbyterian Church started with 22 members on December 31, 1826 and was the first religious society to meet east of the Genesee River. Thus Third Church, at its very inception, was in the vanguard of the struggle against outworn dogmas and on behalf of a vital religion.

One of the stories of our culture is that the early congregation decided on one Sunday to construct a church building, agreed to complete the project and meet in it for worship the next Sunday, and actually met that goal.

Third has continued to be in the vanguard of movement and growth within the national Presbyterian Churches. In 1953, one of our members, Lilian Alexander presented a momentous proposal to Session to approve the ordination of women to the ministry. It did, and sent the overture to the General Assembly (the National Presbyterian Body), which passed the overture in 1955.

Click here to learn more about the history of Third Presbyterian Church. Click here to view historic photos of the church.