The history of St. Peter's mirrors much of the history of the world around it. In 1831, Dansville was a village of barely six hundred people. It was growing, and already boasted three churches - Methodist, German Lutheran and Presbyterian. The Reverend William W. Bostwick, as part of his work as an Episcopal missionary, traveled 35 miles on horseback to visit Dansville several times a year.
On Good Friday, April 13, 1831, Father Bostwick met with several men in the Methodist Meeting Hall to incorporate St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The first recorded Holy Communion was administered in May of 1833. There were ten communicants.
In 1835 the tiny parish was in trouble. It managed to survive only through the efforts of the women of the parish. The first vestrymen and wardens weren't elected unil 1842. Services were held in an old school house. The first permanent structure was erected in 1846. The church was consecrated by the Right Reverend William Heathcote De Lancey, the first Bishop of Western New York, on May 25, 1847.
The fortunes of the parish rose and fell with the economy of the village and the nation, especially during the Civil War and the bank problems of 1881. The parish seemed close to dissolving on several occasions. By the summer of 1908 things were looking up and a fund was established for a new church building. The present structure was erected in 1910, and the name was officially changed to "St. Peter's Memorial Church".
In 1981, St. Peter's joined Trinity Church (Canaseraga, NY) and Christ Church (Hornell, NY) in the Episcopal Triparish Ministry. None of the three parishes was large enough or wealthy enough to hire clergy and continue to maintain a church building and an office. However, together they could build a viable organization to share resources and provide Episcopal services to all three congregations. The three churches have three joint services each year, one at each church, and they hold an outdoor service and picnic each summer for all three parishes. Parishioners from all three parishes are very supportive of each other's events. A committee consisting of two members from each parish, the triparish treasurer, and the rector meet regularly to manage the affairs of the Triparish. Any decisions made by this committee must be passed by each of the three vestries to be adopted.
From 1831 to the present day St. Peter's has been a parish of survival,
tenacity and love, providing a home for the faithful and a place from which
to send forth the Good News of Christ.