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The Rev. Whiting Griswold arrives in St. Louis
The Rev. Whiting Griswold born in Ohioin 1815, arrived in St. Louis as a deacon, having graduated from General Theological Seminary in New York in and ordained to the deaconate by Bishop B. T. Onderdonk of New York on June 27, 1841. He initially served as an assistant at Christ Church in St. Louis. -
Diocese of Missouri admitted at General Convention
By resolution of General Convention, meeting in New York, the Diocese of Missouri was admitted to the Church. Missionary Jackson Kemper stated that "the strength of this diocese is in and about St. Louis..." There were at that time in St. Louis "two churches, one of them among the largest in the Mississippi Valley, and a third about to be constructed." The "third" was St. John's. Whiting Griswold at this time was assistant at Christ Church, the other parish being St. Paul's -
Preliminary Meeting
"A preliminary meeting of persons in favor of forming a new parish in the southern part of St. Louis was held in the basement of Christ church, corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets...The Rev. P.R. Minard (rector of St. Paul's parish, now extinct) being appointed chairman...At the time of its organization, the city of St. Louis did not extend much further southward than what is now known as Spruce street, or much further westward than Sixth street." The Church News, Feb, 1890 -
Meeting to Secure Location for Services
At a subsequent meeting held at the same place...a committe consisting of Messrs. B.W.Ayres, B.H. Randolph, and F.W.Southack was appointed to secure the use of the room in the Washington Engine House on Second street, near the corner of Plum street, for the purpose of holding publis worship." The Church News, Feb, 1890 -
First Services Held
"...the first service was held on the Sunday next before Advent 1841, the Rev. Whiting Griswold officiating, at the request of the committee. -
St. John's Parish formally organized.
"On Holy Innocents Day...in Christ church a meeting was held, at which Bishop Kemper presided, and the organization of St. John's parish was effected, and the Rev. Whiting Griswold was elected as rector thereof The first wardens were J.V. Garnier and Isaac W. Ayres.F.W. Southack was the first Secretary" The Church News, Feb, 1890 -
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The rectorship of the Rev. A. Whiting Griswold
During the rectorship of the Rev. A Whiting Griswold, "he established the Orphans home, which was opened in 1843 and chartered in 1845. He also caused plans to be adopted for the erection of a suitable church, and at the time of his death the parish was posessed of a lot party paid for and prepared for the foundation of the new building. This lot was on the corner of Eighth and Gratiot streets..." -
St. John's Application Rejected by Diocese!
Application was made on the part of St. John's Parish, lately organized in the southern part of the city of St. Louis, for admission into union with the Church in this diocese.
The application was referred to the Committee on the Admission of Churches, who reported favorably. But, in the opinion of the convention, the requisitions of the canons as to time had not been complied with, and, after some discussion, their report was rejected. -- Diocesan Convention Proceedings 1841 -
First Building
Until the summer of 1842 public worship was regularly attended at the Washington Engine House...the vestry decided to lease a lot at the corner of Fifth and Spruce and to erect a building thereon. This was done, and the edifice was then designated as 'St. John's church'. " The Church News, Feb. 1890 -
Death of the Rev. A Whiting Griswold
The reverend A Whiting Griswold died during the CHolera epidemic of 1849, after helping care for the spiritual and temporal needs of the sick and dying around him. Accounts of his final days relate that, once the inevitable state of delerium set in, he recited all of the services in the prayer book, as if in front of his congregation, until finally succumbing to the disease. -
Vestry chooses the Rev. Francis Clerc to succeed Griswold
"..the vestry called the Rev.F.J. Clerc, of Connecticut, to the rectorship of the parish. Prior to his coming the temporary edifice was enlarged, repaired and painted. -
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the rectorship of the Rev. Francis J Clerc
"in the Spring of 1850, the vestry decided to abandon the idea of building at Eighth and Gratiot streets, and on February 5, 1851 sold the lot.One year later, the vestry purchased the lot on the corner of Sixth and Spruce streets, and began at once the erection of a church which was consecrated on August 28th 1853 by Bishop Hawks -
the Rev. Francis Clerc assumes charge of St. John's
the Rev. Francis J Clerc, a graduate of General Seminary in New York, and son of Laurent Clerc, renowned deaf educator and founder of the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, took charge of St. John's as its second rector. -
Consecration of New Church
the vestry had decided in 1850 to abandon the idea of building at Eigth and Gratiot, and sold the lot in 1851, and began construction of this structure. This was to serve the congregation through five rectors, and the turbulent events of the Civil War. -
Clerc resigns
"Mr. Clerc resigned the rectorship...that he might accept the presidency of St. Paul's College, Palmyra" The Church News, Feb. 1890 -
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Rectorship of the Rev. W. R. Johnson
The Rev. Johnson was from Little Falls, NY -
The Rev. Dr. John Coleman DD begins his tenure as rector
Dr. Coleman, born Feb.11, 1804in Baltimore, came to St John's from Philadelphia,where he had been the rector of Trinity church there. He had accepted a call by St. John's vestry in September of 1858 Nationally known as co-publisher of "The Banner of the Cross, a church periodical, and several theological books. His son, Leighton, was later Bishop of Deleware. -
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Dr. Coleman's rectorship
During Dr. Coleman's rectorship, increasng national tension over the issue of Slavery threatened to tear the nation apart. Families, Cities, and Churches grew increasingly divided. -
The Rev. Dr. Coleman resigns
"His resignation was tendered on account of grave political feeling at the beginning of the civil war, and his desire to make his home "in one of the Confederate States of America" The Church News Feb. 1890 Dr. Coleman eventually became rector of St. Andrew's Chuch (now St. Andrew's Cathedral) in Jackson, Mississippi. He resigned that post sometime later, and returned to St. Louis where he died on September, 15, 1869. -
The Rev. William G. Spencer begins his tenure as rector
"During the rectorship of the Rev. William G. Spencer, of Terre Haute, Indiana, a parish school was established, under the care of the Rev. W.L. Githens, who was also elected as assistant minister. -
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The recorship of William G. Spencer
The Rev. Spencer saw the parish through the Civil war, and helped it to continue to grow and prosper, adding both clerical staff, and a parish school/ -
Completion of Hickory and Dolman Church
"Through manifold trials the church was erected. An unfortunate selection of the site of an old quarry, filled up years ago, caused great additional expense and worry. Down went the foundations, in one corner, to the depth of forty feet, and under the ground is all the stone with which the church was to be built. The foundations are solid, but the rock on which they stand is far, far under the surface." The Church News Feb. 1890 -
The Rev. Spencer resigns.
The rev. William G. Spencer resigned -
The Rev. J.P.T. Ingraham called as rector.
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The Rev. J.P.T. Ingraham's rectorship
During the tenure of the Rev. Ingraham, the parish built a new building at Hickory and Dolman, which is still standing as of 2010. During construction, substatial debt was created, due to unexpected construction problems related to the foundation. After several attempts by the vestry to cut costs, the Rev. Ingraham resigned at the end of 1879. -
Groundbreaking for Hickory and Dolman church
As early as 1863 there had been discussion of moving the parish, but no action was taken until the Rev. Ingraham came in 1868. -
Prayer Desk Given
A prayer desk was given in memorial to Katie Churchill. -
Conerstone laid, Hickory and Dolman
cornerstone laid by Bishop Robertson -
Completion and first service in Hickory and Dolman church
The first service in the new church was conducted by the Rev. J.P,T. Ingraham on Easter Sunday, 1872 -
Resignation of the Rev. J.P.T. Ingraham
Significant debt incurred in the construction of the new church, caused by unplanned expenses to dig a stable foundation, left the church in a precarious financial position "The vestry worked nobly, the rector worked day and night, and both rector and vestry were "instant in season and out of season" but the time came when, through force of circumstances, the rector felt that he must resign" The Church News, Feb. 1890 -
The Rev. Joseph T . Wright takes over
(Date uncertain) The Rev. J.T. Wright, of Denison Texas took over St. John's parish, after a period of some months when the parish was without a rector. During the Rev. Wright's tenure, the nation's ecomomy improved, and much of St. John's indebtedness was retired. -
Resignation of the Rev. Joseph T. Wright.
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The Rev. Stephen H Green takes charge of St. John's
The Rev. Stephen H Green, of Dallas, TX, formally takes charge of St. John's He is the son of the first Episcopal bishop of Mississippi, and under his tenure as rector, St. John's takes on more of a "high church" flavor than previously. -
Bishop Robertson gives consent for Stephen Green as rector
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Institution of the Rev. Stephen H Green as rector
The Rev. Stephen H Green's first service as rector of St. Johns -
Dedication of Present Altar
"A very beautiful memorial altar...was solomnly blessed and used for the first time on All Saints Day. This altar was given by "Friends of St. John's Parish" in memory of the late Bishop Robertson. It is of white Italian marble, 8 feet in length, resting on three steps of marble and a gainst a reredos of white marble ten feet in height, supported on pillars of brown and white Tennessee Marble. The four pillars on which the 'holy table' rests are of Mexican onyx... -
Consecration of St. John's Hickory & Dolman
the debt on the structrure having finally been paid off, Bishop Daniel Tuttle consecrated the building at Hickory and Dolman streets. Present with Bishop Tuttle was Dean Schuyler, Archdeacon Miller, the Rev. J.P.T. Ingraham, former rector, and clergy from throught the city and surrounding area The Rev. Ingraham read the gospel, and presented a sketch of the history of the parish, and Bishop Tuttle preached. -
Resignation of the Rev. Green
The Rev. Steven H Green resigned as rector, to take a position in Alabama -
The Rev. Green departs
The Rev. Stephen H Green left St John's to assume a position in Alabama -
The Rev. Carl Moller becomes rector
With Bishop Tuttle's consent, The Rev. Carl Nelson Moller, of Chicago, becomes rector of St. John's. Moller, a graduate of Meadville Theological School in Meadville, PA, had been ordained to the deaconate in 1889, to the priesthood in 1890 and served as Priest-in-charge of St. Steven's Mission in Chicago from 1890-1896 -
Tornado!
A major tornado hits St. Louis, destroying a wide swath from Tower Grove Park to the Eads bridge, and into Illinois. Lafaiette Park, and St. Johns were directly in the trajectory of the funnel and both the church and the neighborhood were destoryed. St. John's, however, was rebuilt - minus its steeple -
St. John's Rebuilds
St. John's, with the help of insurance, rebuilt, after the tornado. The building was rebuilt, minus its steeple, at a cost of $2,567.70 In fact, after the storm, things started looking up. Expenses and salaries increased, despite a loss of approximately 30 communicants from the previous year. However, the congregation was also once again in debt, in the amount of $1,125.99. which was paid off within a year. -
H. Percy Silver assumes duties as rector
The Rev. H Percy Silver becomes rector of St. Johns, He had been rector of Church of the Good Shepherd in Omaha, Nebraska prior to coming to St. John's, and had prior to this been rector at Holy Trinity Church in Lincoln. -
OOPS! Percy Silver called up for military duty!
The US Army called up H Percy Silver, to an active-duty role as a military chaplian, an obligation he was compelled to fulfill, despite his just having become rector of St. John's. Dutifuly, he resigned his rectorate and reported for duty, and was stationed in Manila, in the Phillipines. -
The Rev. Annesley Thomas Young takes over as Rector
The Reverend Annesley Thomas Young became the rector of St. Johns. He conducted three services each Sunday, as well as a service each Friday, and on all Saints and Holy Days. He had been ordained to the priesthood in the diocese of Milwakee, June 6. 1896, and had come to Missouri from the diocese of Springfield. -
The Rev. Annesly Thomas Young becomes Rector
The Rev. Annesly Young, who had been ordained in the Diocese of Milswakee on June 5, 1896, and had since then been doing missionary work in Minnesota, was called to become rector of St. John's. -
The Rev. Annesly T. Young leaves
The Rev. Annesly T. Young leaves St. John's to become the rector of St. Marks Episcopal Church in Maquoketa, IA -
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Rectorate of Annesely Thomas Young
During the rectorate of The Rev. Mr. Young, discussions began about moving St. Johns from its location near Lafayette Park, to a site still further to the south and west, near Tower Grove Park. Dscussions and plans from around 1903 called for building a stone structure on Arsenal Street, and for the existing, older structure to become an auxilliarly chapel. -
The Rev. Crozier G. Adams marries and departs St. John's
The Rev. Crozier Adams was married to Miss Ellen C. Maxwell, by Bishop Tuttle, at St. Johns. St. JOhn's vestry served as ushers. Immediately following his own wedding service, The Rev. Adams performed the marriage of on of the bridesmaids, Miss Ivah Lapeer to Mr. Walter L Ely. The Rev. and Mrs. Adams departed St. Johns, to honeymoon at the home of The Rev. Mr. Adams' father, and eventually took up residence in Ohio.
