St. John’s held its first service in 1834 and was officially organized on Oct. 6, 1835.
The first church building was a wooden structure, consecrated in 1839. It was designed by Richard Upjohn, who later became an internationally known architect. He also designed Trinity Church in New York City. That church became a refuge for first responders who worked at the site of the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
St. John’s first structure was destroyed in the Great Fire of April 30, 1911. A stone replica of that building was constructed between 1912 and 1918. It was designed by Hobart B. Upjohn, the grandson of Richard Upjohn. The lectern and the baptismal font from the original building still are in use.
They gained a female priest. Score a point for TEC’s innovations. What many don’t know is that they lost a TEC female priest… she renounced her vows and joined the Orthodox Church.
Good for her! It’s too bad that the press won’t report many (any?) of the growing number of women who come to understand the invalidity of their orders and take steps to rectify their situation.
Ian+, I assure you that quite a few of us have taken steps to correct what we recognize in retrospect as a mistake. Some have left for Rome and some of us have gone to the Orthodox Church. None of us wants the publicity. We’re moving on in our lives and involved in significant new ministries. You see, women don’t need to be ordained to serve in the Church; they never have needed that.
My father an old school Episcopal priest in times of pique would refer to my mother as the Bishop ;-). Most of the time he had the good sense to listen to her.
Centexn
Alice,
The female priest to whom you refer was a fill in. Incidently, she gave one of the most interesting sermons on icons that I have ever heard. And she is one neat lady.
I am sure that there are some male priests whose ordinations were a mistake. I know a few of them. I also know quite a few female priests whose ordinations are a gift to the body and the renunciation of their vows would be a loss to the church. Okay — jump all over me now.
Old Soldier, she is indeed! God has called her to something extraordinary and rewarded her for her faithfulness.
Julia, the Church has always recognized women’s gifts in ministry, just not as priests. That is an innovation of ECUSA/TEC and has caused great confusion and strife. You might be interested in reading this: http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-women-were-never-priests.html
Centexn, in the Orthodox Church, which has married priests, the priest’s wife is refered to as “presbytera” because she shares in her husband’s ministry, but not in his priesthood.
The years 2002 through 2007 have not been kind to St. John’s parish. Members down 50 percent, ASA down 20 percent, and a flat Plate & Pledge which means a loss of 16 percent in real dollars. I reject the wisdom of staying with the TEC, but I do admire that New England grit. Statmann
I understood that our pledges were up this year. But what do I know. I am just an 8 O’Clocker. FWIW. In this chuch I worship the God of my fathers. I meet the living Christ at the rail at Eucharist.
All other things seem not so significant.