Calvary Church's History
Calvary began as a small mission in Williamsville, New York in 1912. Attempts at forming a congregation have been found in records dating back as far as 1819. In 1985, a book was commissioned to document the history of Calvary Episcopal Church in Williamsville, New York and covers the period of 1912 - 1985. Below is a brief summary of major events in this history. You may obtain copies by contacting the church office.
1912 - 1993
- 1912 - Beginning as a mission, the first communion services were held at the Thorner home on Miller St. As interest grew, services were moved to the Mader Barn on North Ellicott street.
Rev. Alfred Priddus - 1913 - The first Women's Auxiliary was organized to raise money for a permanent building.
- 1918 - With 20 communicants, services were held in the Burkhardt building which is now 5500 Main Street.
- 1918 - The property on the corner of Los Robles and Milton was donated for the building of the parish hall and then the church.
Rev. Glenn
Coykendall - 1922 - The Rev. Alfred Priddis becomes the first "Priest-in-Charge" at the mission, and the first uses of Calvary were in the written records.
- 1922 - The first recorded vestry is organized.
- March 5, 1924 - Bishop Brent dedicates the new church building.
- 1930 - Numbering 125 communicants, Rev. Priddis dies in a drowning incident (along with Harry Williams) while saving member Mrs.. Williams.
Rev. Frank
Patterson - 1930 - Rev. Glenn Coykendall is named "Priest in Charge."
- 1937 - The Great Depression affected Calvary to the point that the congregation was reduce to 10 parishioners and 15 choir members. Rev. Coykendall was withdrawn and services were run by the men of Calvary.
- 1940 - Rev. Frank Patterson named "Priest-in-Charge." He was charged with transforming the Calvary mission to a Parish.
Rev. Carl
Richardson - June 20, 1945 - Calvary Church becomes a parish.
- October 28, 1945 - The Rev. Frank Patterson was instituted as the first rector of Calvary. The first confirmation class graduates.
- 1951 - Daniel Niederlander donated the lot on the corner of Cayuga and Milton where ground breaking ceremonies took place.
- March 3, 1952 - The new church opened just in time for Easter Sunday services.
Rev. Edward
Kryder - 1953 - After the untimely death of Father Patterson, Rev. Carl Richardson was instituted as the second rector of Calvary on November 1st.
- 1954 - New Parish hall was opened.
- October 1957 - The Rev. Edward Kryder was instituted as the third rector of Calvary.
- 1959 - The carillon was donated by the Niederlander family.
- 1965 - The Corner House Nursery School was established.
- 1968 - Scaiffe building is opened.
Rev. Jerre Feagin - 1973 - Passion Sunday marked the 50th anniversary of Calvary founding and the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the current church.
- 1977 - Meals-on-Wheels outreach program began.
- 1985 - The Rev. Jerre Willis Feagin became the fourth Rector of Calvary Church.
- 1993 - The Rev. Steven Metcalfe becomes the fifth Rector of Calvary Church.
The Architecture of Calvary
Buffalo and Western New York has a treasure trove of archetextual delights and Calvary Church in Williamsville adds to it. Take a virtual tour of our parish by visiting the "Buffalo as an Architectural Museum" web site by following this link.
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