Our History

Beginnings

1957

April 4: Rev. Frederic J. Teichmann comes to Greece to establish mission church

June 9: First service held at American Legion Hall, Dorsey Road

1958

Feb. 9: Congregation organized (79 Confirmed, 146 Baptized members)

Spring: Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church buys land for parsonage and church

Sept.: Chapel built on land north of present church, on Mt. Read Blvd.

1960's - 1970's

1961

Sept.: Fund drive started for first church building at corner of Mt Read/ English Rd

1962

Nov.: Rev. Teichmann leaves to lead church in Long Island

Dec.: Rev. Thomas F. Mugavero called as pastor of Messiah; Ground broken for first unit of present church.

1963

Feb. 28: Rev. Mugavero installed as pastor

1964

April: Membership was 232 adult members, 400 baptized members

1966

July: Contract signed for designs of second unit

Nov.: Fund drive started for present sanctuary and building

1967

Sept.: Ground breaking for current structure

1969

Feb. 16: Dedication of new building

1979

Spring: Rev. Mugavero resigned to become pastor of Holy Trinity, Staten Island; Rev. James L. Dugan called as pastor

Sept. 16: Rev. Dugan installed

1980's - 1990's

1983

Spring: Intern program (3rd yr seminary student) approved by congregation

Summer: Robert Fatzinger becomes first intern

1986

Jan.: Capital program approved to update and improve current building

Summer: Congregation approves Pastoral Assistant program

Fall: Rev. John Califano named Pastoral Assistant

1987

Spring: Capital improvements completed (enlarged narthex, more offices, accessibility)

1988

Spring: Congregation approves Assistant Pastor

Spring: Rev. Ghislaine Cotnoir becomes first Assistant Pastor of Messiah

1989

Feb.: Mortgage burning ceremony for current sanctuary

1992

Fall: Rev. Cotnoir leaves to become Chaplain at Rochester General Hospital

1993

August: Ethel Edwards becomes Parish Assistant

1995

Jan.: Membership stands at 1002 confirmed, 1433 baptized members

1998

April: Rev. Dugan leaves to become pastor at St. Paul, Savannah, GA

June: Rev. Robert Busch is called as Intentional Interim Pastor

1999

August: Rev. Dr. Richard B. Barbour is called as Senior Pastor of Messiah

2000

June: Rev. Justin Johnson is called to be the Family and Youth Pastor of Messiah

Recent

2002

August: Altar redone

2004

August: Pastor Johnson leaves to become Pastor

of St, Timothy Lutheran Church, Geneseo

2006

August: Rev Katherine "Kit" Neel is called as Associate Pastor

August: Rev. Barbour leaves to join staff of Advent Lutheran Church, Boca Raton, Fla

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