Cornerstone Bible Chapel, Rochester, NY
From BrethrenPedia
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+).
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.
By 1951, they moved to 195 Congress Ave., and rebranded as Congress Avenue Gospel Chapel thru at least 1970, and at some juncture as Congress Avenue Bible Chapel. About 1999-2000, it relocated and rebranded as its current location and name.
At least two assemblies have hived off of this assembly: Northgate Bible Chapel in 1965, and Crossroads Bible Fellowship in 1996.
Rochester Gospel Hall (OB) appears to have been the earliest open assembly in the area, active +1890-1904+. There was also Frost Avenue Gospel Hall, an open brethren meeting which met +1926-1950+.
The exclusive brethren pre-dated the opens back to at least 1878, see history on their TW, Grant-Booth and 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 +1951-1970+
- 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.) +1951-1999/2000
- 3231 Buffalo Rd. 2000-current
Early Correspondents
- John W. Bramhall, Jr. 1916-1927+
- Stephen G. Smith +1936-1947
- Fred James +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
- CBC's website
Sources
- AAB's 1897-1970+
- New York history by Robert L. Peterson and David Rodgers
- Philip J. Fillion - 2025-4-6