History

In the spring of 1970 a group of 19 families petitioned the Lutheran Church in America to begin a mission congregation in the growing suburb of Clifton Park, NY. As a result, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church was officially recognized as a congregation in December of that year. The national church purchased 5 acres of land for future building at the corner of Route 146 and Moe Road.

The families initially met at the member homes, but soon moved to the Burning Bush clubhouse in the Country Knolls subdivision off Ushers Road. Shortly afterward, we moved to the Barney Road clubhouse in Clifton Knolls while a new building was under construction at our current site. Our new building was dedicated in December 1975.

Since that time, the building has undergone 3 expansion projects. The first, in 1982 added additional worship space and a 2200 square foot wing for Sunday school classrooms. In 1988 we commissioned a 10-year Master Plan for growth and began Phase One of that plan. It represented an additional 2400 square feet, providing space for a new office for the pastor, new Sunday school classrooms and room for our Nursery School. The building was completed in 1989 and was constructed in its entirety by members of the congregation.

Groundbreaking for our latest expansion project was held in May 1999. This ambitious plan once again used the talents of our members to build 60% of the addition. It was completed and dedicated in March of 2000. It incorporates a new 2000 square foot welcoming space, which includes a coffee and fellowship area. It is separated from the worship space by a movable partition wall that can be opened to increase seating from 400 to 500 people. The new building is warmed by radiant floor heat in the winter and is cooled by air-conditioning during the summertime.

The final portion of this expansion included the addition of 4 new Sunday school classrooms and a corridor linking the new Sanctuary to the original building. Time constraints suggested hiring a contractor to complete the work in 90 days. This portion of the facility was opened in January of 2001. The kitchen and bathrooms next to the Fellowship Hall received a major renovation in 2008.

Our Master Plan calls for one additional expansion, a Parish Life Center to be constructed immediately adjacent to the new welcoming space. This center will provide room for youth functions and congregational retreats. We at Prince of Peace remain committed to our motto "Faith Works."