Although many Presbyterians helped to found the town of Canandaigua, no Presbyterian church was founded until 1870. The early Presbyterians had joined the Congregational Church for worship. Early in 1870 the congregation of this church had outgrown the church building, so property for a new building was purchased on March 16, 1870. During meetings held on April 26th and May 2nd it was decided to make the new church Presbyterian. Until the completion of the new building in 1871, services were held either in the courthouse or at the Methodist chruch. The new building was dedicated in 1872. This society was unique in establishing a woman's foreign missionary society, called the "Persian Band" to aid in Persia.