First Unitarian Church of Rochester

Rochester, United States

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Wheelchair access: Accessible

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The First Unitarian Church of Rochester, located at 220 Winton Road South in Rochester, New York, is a landmark of modern religious architecture designed by Louis Kahn and completed in 1962. Built for one of the largest congregations in the Unitarian Universalist denomination, the church exemplifies brutalist and modernist principles. The building has been recognized as one of the most significant works of religious architecture of its era. Beyond its architectural importance, the church carries profound historical significance: organized in 1829, it hosted the Rochester Women's Rights Convention in 1848, two weeks after the Seneca Falls convention, where Abigail Bush became the first woman to preside over a public meeting of that scale. The congregation has long been defined by its commitment to social reform, from harboring antislavery activists and women's suffrage leaders like Susan B. Anthony, to providing crucial support for twentieth-century causes including women's education, reproductive rights, and community service. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.