Cornerstone Bible Chapel is an open brethren assembly in Rochester, Monroe Co., [[New York]] that is believed to trace its roots was founded in 1916 as early as 1890, the founding year is unknown. In 1890, the U.Sa result of evangelistic efforts by Harold Harper and John Bramhall. Religious Census counted one open assembly in Monroe CoThey met initially on St.Paul Boulevard, with 50 meeting in then by 1927 into a homebuilding on the corner of Carter & Herald Sts. In its earliest years, it was then known as Rochester Gospel Carter Street Chapel (+1927+) and Carter Street Assembly Hall thru at least 1904(+1936-1950+).
In 1922, [https://omeka.religiousecologies.org/files/original/dcdd6054aa8916adaecaafcd5e80cae624ca8c95.jpg 1926 USCoRB] indicated that there were two meetings 38 in fellowship (15 men, 23 women) in Rochesterthis assembly including 5 S.S. teachers, one was likely what became [[Frost Avenue Gospel presiding over 30 children (for a total of 68 in 1926). The Hallhad a value of $3, Rochester000 with $600 owed (with $354.63 in annual expenses), NY|Frost Avenue Gospel Hall]] +and $545.50 was additionally spent towards the Lord's work in 1926-1950+, which may have subsequently merged into this assembly. Unknown which address from 1922 belongs with this meeting.
[https://omekaBy 1951, they moved to 195 Congress Ave.religiousecologies, and rebranded as Congress Avenue Gospel Chapel thru at least 1970, and at some juncture as Congress Avenue Bible Chapel.org/files/original/dcdd6054aa8916adaecaafcd5e80cae624ca8c95 About 1999-2000, it relocated and rebranded as its current location and name.jpg 1926 USCoRB] indicated that there were 38 in fellowship (15 men, 23 women) in At least two assemblies have hived off of this assembly including 5 S.S. teachers: [[Northgate Bible Chapel, presiding over 30 children (for a total of 68 in 1926). The Hall had a value of $3Rochester,000 with $600 owed (with $354.63 NY|Northgate Bible Chapel]] in annual expenses)1965, and $545.50 was additionally spent towards the Lord's work [[Crossroads Bible Fellowship, Rochester, NY|Crossroads Bible Fellowship]] in 19261996.
By 1927[[Rochester Gospel Hall, NY|Rochester Gospel Hall]] (OB) appears to have been the earliest open assembly in the area, active +1890-1904+. There was known as Carter Street Chapelalso [[Frost Avenue Gospel Hall, and by 1936 as Carter Street Assembly Hall. By 1951Rochester, it had rebranded as Congress NY|Frost Avenue Gospel ChapelHall]], an open brethren meeting which it remained until 1999/2000 when it became known as its current entitymet +1926-1950+.
It's notable that the 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=
* Rochester Gospel Hall +1890-1904St. 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=
* 273 E. Main St. +1897+* 70 Jefferson St. +1922+ & 404 South Ave. +1922+ (2 meetings)
* crnr. Carter & Herald +1926-1950+
* 195 Congress Ave. (cor. Congress & Pioneer Sts. ) +1951-1999/2000
* 3231 Buffalo Rd. 2000-current
=Early Correspondents=
* Alexander S. "Alex" McKenzie +1904+ (b. 1847 [[Prince Edward Island|P.E.I.]])* J.John W. Bramhall, Jr. +19221916-1927+
* Stephen G. Smith +1936-1947
* Fred James +1948+
=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
