Another St. Peter's, the same Delancey

The Rt. Rev. William Heathcoate De Lancey was elected bishop of the Diocese of Western New York in 1838, and in the next year moved to Geneva, N.Y. He retained a residence in the village until the time of his death, April 5, 1865, and in honor of his life and good works in the mission field and church, St. Peter's was founded and organized as his memorial.

As early as 1850 Bishop De Lancey began missionary work in Geneva and soon established a prosperous mission in the north part of the village. In 1852 he began holding services in a small chapel on Genesee Street, and becoming owner of the building, he named it St. Peter's in honor of his old parish church at Philadelphia, in which he was advanced to the episcopate.

In 1861 the bishop called Dr. James Rankine to Geneva to assume charge of the Theological Training School, and the latter soon found himself also engaged in the mission work, holding full Sunday service in the chapel. When Bishop De Lancey died, and in honor of his splendid life and services, the name of this institution was changed to "The De Lancey Divinity School."

The confidence in Dr. Rankine that was shown by the bishop in calling him to the charge of this school was most worthily bestowed, for since its inception in 1861, there has been no change nor desire for change in its principalship.

This silent though thorough institution attracts but little attention in the village, and only for the grand results here achieved, we would hardly know of its existence. Briefly stated, the object of the De Lancey Divinity School is to prepare for the sacred ministry and church work such persons as from age and peculiar circumstances cannot attend the general theological seminaries.

In 1886 relations were established with Hobart College by which the use of the facilities of the college, including the chapel and the library, and instruction from members of the College Faculty were secured to students connected with the Divinity School.

However, it was not until 1867, two years after the death of Bishop De Lancey, that St. Peter's parish and church were organized. The chapel was replaced with a large and elegant stone edifice, the funds therefor being raised by voluntary contribution, and the chief actor in accomplishing all that was done was Dr. Rankine. The church was begun in 1868, and was consecrated May 10, 1870. The tower was built in 1878.

The first rector was Dr. Rankine, who has filled that office until the present time (1893), with the exception of about one year, (1869-71) during which he was president of Hobart College.
In this interval Dr. Maunsell Van Rensselaer was rector of St. Peter's (he replaced Rankine as president of Hobart College (1871-76).

(From Conover's History of Hobart College, 1893)