View source for Cornerstone Bible Chapel, Rochester, NY

Cornerstone Bible Chapel is an open brethren assembly in Rochester, Monroe Co., [[New York]] that was founded in 1916 as a result of evangelistic efforts by Harold Harper and John Bramhall. They met initially on St. Paul Boulevard, then by 1927 into a building on the corner of Carter & Herald Sts., then known as Carter Street Chapel (+1927+) and Carter Street Assembly Hall (+1936-1950+).

[https://omeka.religiousecologies.org/files/original/dcdd6054aa8916adaecaafcd5e80cae624ca8c95.jpg 1926 USCoRB] indicated that there were 38 in fellowship (15 men, 23 women) in this assembly including 5 S.S. teachers, presiding over 30 children (for a total of 68 in 1926). The Hall had a value of $3,000 with $600 owed (with $354.63 in annual expenses), and $545.50 was additionally spent towards the Lord's work in 1926.

In 1950, the assembly constructed a new building at 195 Congress Ave., and rebranded as Congress Avenue Gospel Chapel thru at least 1970, and at some juncture as Congress Avenue Bible Chapel. About 1999, it relocated and rebranded as its current location and name.

In a 1990's [[New York history]] by Peterson & Rodgers, "Some of the leaders over the years have been Bob Westfall, Ted Larter, Vernon Larter, Jim Boyd, Mel Northrup, and Harvey Rodger. Congress Avenue Bible Chapel has about 200 adults and youngsters. The assembly has commended workers to Zambia, Colombia, Zaire, and Papua New Guinea. Randy Amos and Ray Blais and their families were commended for full time work at Northgate and elsewhere."

At least two assemblies have hived off of this assembly: [[Northgate Bible Chapel, Rochester, NY|Northgate Bible Chapel]] in 1965, and [[Crossroads Bible Fellowship, Rochester, NY|Crossroads Bible Fellowship]] in 1996.

[[Frost Avenue Gospel Hall, Rochester, NY|Frost Avenue Gospel Hall]] was the earliest open assembly in the area, active as early as 1887-1950. The exclusive brethren pre-dated the opens back to at least 1878, see history on their [[Rochester Meeting Room, NY|TW]], [[Rochester Assembly, NY|Grant-Booth]] and [[Bible Truth Hall, Rochester, NY|Grant-Open]] meetings, the latter of which may have absorbed into other open assemblies after 1941.


=AKA's=
* St. Paul Blvd. Assembly 1916+
* Carter Street Chapel +1927+
* Carter Street Assembly Hall +1936-1950
* Congress Avenue Gospel Chapel 1950-1970+
* Congress Avenue Bible Chapel +1999/2000
* Cornerstone Bible Chapel 1999/2000-current

=Locations=
* 70 Jefferson St. & 404 South Ave. +1922+
* crnr. Carter & Herald +1926-1950+
* 195 Congress Ave. (cor. Congress & Pioneer Sts.) +1951-1999
** later sold to Ebenezer, now occupied by [https://www.templeofgodinc.com/ Temple of God, Inc.].
* 3231 Buffalo Rd. 2000-current

=Early Correspondents=
* John W. Bramhall, Jr. 1916-1927+
* Stephen G. Smith +1936-1947
* Fred James 1947-1948+
* Stephen G. Smith +1950-1970+

=Also See=
* [[Visiting Ministry at Cornerstone Bible Chapel, Rochester, NY]]
* [[Who's Who at Cornerstone Bible Chapel, Rochester, NY]] notable early alumni
* [https://www.cornerstonebiblechapel.org/ CBC's website]

=Sources=
* AAB's 1897-1970+
* [[New York history]] by Robert L. Peterson and David Rodgers
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-joseph-fillion-407ab950/ Philip J. Fillion] - 2025-4-6