The Episcopal Church Home was the result of a series of meetings beginning on July 21, 1858, by the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church to "take measures for the foundation of a charitable institution for the relief of the indigent, infirmed, and aged, and other needy and destitute persons". The Foundation of the Episcopal Church was formed and incorporated on July 28, 1858 (some sources site the incorporation on August 23, 1858).

On October 6, 1858, the twenty-one member Board of Managers appointed the first Board of Associate Mangers. The associate managers were women from the local parishes and they were provided with the authority to rent a residence. The term of the lease began on November 1, 1858, in a brick residence at 253 Washington Street for a fee of $200 per year. Accommodations were made for twenty people (inmates, as referred to at the time). The home opened on November 6, 1858, and was named the Home for the Aged and Destitute Females.

The residence filled quickly, with two elderly women entering on opening day, and one the following the day. By the end of the week, a family of five, and a mother with her son and grandson were admitted. It soon became apparent, the shelter of men and children were not feasible, and the care of them ceased until a more appropriate residence could be established.

The home relocated to the former Clinton House (the first president of the Foundation, George W. Clinton) on Mohawk Street in 1860 for a rental charge of $250 per year. This residence also only provided shelter and assistance to women. By 1866, larger quarters were needed.

In 1862, James M. Smith, former judge, donated two acres to the Foundation on Rogers Street (now what is Richmond Avenue and Utica Street). In 1864, by a special legislative act, the Foundation was given the land of the Old Black Rock Burial Ground (now the Symphony Circle and Richmond Avenue and North Street). The Foundation never utilized either of these properties to build on.

In May 1866, the Foundation purchased the residence and grounds of Edwin Thomas on the corner of Seventh Street and Rhode Island. The home now had accommodations to serve orphans and children, along with adults. When the residence became overcrowded, a separate children's ward was established. In 1869, a two-story brick wing was constructed and connected with the north side of the present building.

The population as of August 25, 1875, totaled thirty-five children; nineteen girls and twelve boys. The youngest child was four years old and the oldest was a twelve year old boy. Children were placed out at the age of fourteen with continuation of contact. In the event a daughter was returned to her father and treated inappropriately, she could return to the orphanage until she was sixteen and then she could transfer to the adult wards.

The Foundation started to experience financial difficulties in 1879 due to the increase of population, expenses, and taxes. The Foundation felt no other option than to sell the property granted to them, and sold it for $15,000. The proceeds from the sale and an advance of $12,000, pulled the Foundation out of the experience.

A fundraising campaigned was launched in 1893 for the erection of a separate, free-standing orphanage to be situated on the northwest corner of the property, facing Front Street. The physical address would be listed as 835 Front Street. In order for a contract to be secured, funds in the amount of $20,000 needed to be raised. This amount was raised and the cornerstone was laid on June 27, 1894. The total cost of the building was $35,000; of that amount, $27,000 was paid by the fundraiser. The balance was a mortgage in the amount of $7,700 and was assumed by the Church Home League. The building was ready for occupancy on May 23, 1895, with accommodations for 80 - 100 children.

The orphanage provided schooling on premises with a total population of 45 students. Teachers were “ladies of culture” and paid and supervised by the Department of Public Instruction. The make-up of the school included seven grades and a modified kindergarten with a principal and two teachers. The buildings on the property were supplied with city water connected to the city sewage system. They were heated by steam and lit by gas. There was also a garden vegetable spanning two acres of the on the property.

In 1897, the majority of the children were boarders and their weekly rent was paid by the parent and/or guardian. Many mothers were considered "out of service" because many were working as maids, cooks, or nannies in private residences.

The Hutchinson Memorial Chapel of the Holy Innocents was built by Edward Hutchinson in memory of his father. In 1903, the home was provided with a gift of $50,000, leading to the demolition of the current residence to be replaced with a new building.

The Church Home League was established to provide payment to the mortgage and to continue with expansion and updates on the property. The last payment of the orphanage mortgage was made in 1902. The Church Home League also established a Domestic Science Room in the school, where children were taught cooking skills once per week. The final of the establishment of buildings occurred in 1916, and the League was disbanded in 1918.

By 1920, the population of the orphanage dropped to forty and it also began to see a gradual decline of applications for admissions and an increase of parents neglecting to pay board for their children. The State Board of Charities considered the building antiquated and it was no longer a model structure as it was in 1895. The changes the State called for were expensive and deeply cut into the income of the Foundation.

The Children's Committee was formed in 1922 and it was appointed to "focus its whole attention and care to the children and the orphanage". A permanent social worker was employed to transport the children to medical and dental appointments and the social worker was also to make provisions for entertainment.

County referrals continued to ebb and wane, and the population became transient, with short-term stays, and short return stays. The Department of Charities convinced the Committee and the Foundation the orphanage was no longer needed.

The orphanage was closed in 1925 and arrangement for placement of the remaining children was the responsibility of a special committee with the collaboration of the Children's Aid Society. Most of the remaining children were returned to their parents; leaving only eleven needing homes. Sibling groups were kept together; seven were sent to live with families in the country, and four were placed in city homes. The families the children were placed into were under supervision by the Committee and the Children's Aid Society.