About St. Peter's
St. Peter’s Church is a small and vibrant parish that offers meaningful worship services which include spiritual, educational, and inspirational preaching with encouragement to think, act, and pray about God’s word each week. At St. Peter’s hospitality, service to others, and refuge are our greatest values and can easily be seen in the various ways we respond to God’s call to help our neighbor. St. Peter’s understands that “one does not live by bread alone.”
We offer several opportunities to feed others and be fed, offering monthly breakfasts and at least three major dinner events throughout the year. We also pride ourselves in ways we give and volunteer throughout the Henrietta community, both, individually and as a church. We continually partner with Rochester Henrietta Area Food Terminal, Family Promise, A Meal & More, Foodlink, Willow: Domestic Violence Center, and other local organizations & nonprofits who share in God’s call for us to serve those with the greatest needs. Lastly, St. Peter’s is proud to offer to the community and the rest of the Diocese the use of our space as a place for spiritual renewal, education, and refuge.
Since 2016, we have been the home to the Bishop and staff of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester and host multiple support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous. We want our building and grounds to be as important to us as it is to others in Henrietta/Rush as we want for others to know that when they see the stained glass cross lit up at night, they are almost home. When our neighbors come through our red doors, they know that this is a place of sanctuary for all in need of God’s grace.
Join us for our Sunday service from 10 to 11:15am
The Rev'd Laurence Wainwright - Maks
Priest in Charge
I am originally from South Mississippi and went to school at the University of Southern Mississippi.I received my B.A. in Deaf Education and taught in various school systems until I began following my call to an ordained priest in The Episcopal Church. In 2014, I graduated from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas where I received my M.Div. I went back o Mississippi to accept my first call to campus ministry, as the Chaplain, at Mississippi State University and Assistant Priest at the Church of the Resurrection.
I loved campus ministry, but also missed working with the Deaf Community. So, I later move to Rochester, NY to be the Missioner to the Deaf and Episcopal Chaplain at Rochester Institute of Technology and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. After the COVID-19 Pandemic, I moved to Texas for a short stay to be closer to my family who had relocated there for a couple years and have come back to Western New York to be with my fiancee, Anna. I have been the Interim Rector for St. Peter’s, Henrietta since October of 2024.
While I was a chaplain, I frequently would go around to fill in for several of the churches throughout the diocese and St. Peter’s happened to be one of the memorable communities I had the chance to work with. It brings me joy to be with them again as they begin to discern their call for their next faithful leader. In my spare time, I enjoy camping, Disc Golf, playing guitar, BBQ-ing, and Pub Trivia.
About The Episcopal Church
The mission of The Episcopal Church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer’s catechism, is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” In step with that mission, we follow Jesus into loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God, with each other, and with the earth.
The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; people of all genders and sexual orientations serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance.
