St. John's Episcopal Church (Elizabeth, New Jersey) facts for kids

St. John's Episcopal Church is a very old church located at 61 Broad Street in the historic center of Elizabeth, New Jersey. It's part of the Episcopal Church, which is a Christian church. The church was started way back in 1706 by missionaries from London, England. The building you see today was finished in 1860. It's built in a style called neo-Gothic, which looks like old European cathedrals. It even has a tall tower that reaches 126 feet into the sky!

A Look at St. John's History

For almost 40 years in the 1700s, a leader named Rev. Thomas Bradbury Chandler guided this church. He helped create what would become the Episcopal Church in the United States. Chandler was born in Massachusetts and went to Yale College. He became a church helper here in 1747.

He then traveled to England to finish his studies. In 1751, he became a priest. Even while overseas, he was officially made the church's leader. Rev. Chandler worked hard to set up the Church of England in the American colonies. He wrote books saying that there should be a bishop (a church leader) in North America. Other churches, like the Presbyterian and Congregational churches, did not agree with him.

When the American Revolutionary War began, Chandler supported the British king. He was worried about threats from the Sons of Liberty, who were American patriots. So, he moved to England in 1775. He stayed there during the whole war. After the war, the church invited him back to Elizabeth. He returned and continued his work for the last five years of his life.

He said he was too sick to become the first Church of England bishop in North America. He passed away about a year after the Episcopal Church was officially formed in 1789. This new church was separate from the Church of England. The Episcopal Church remembers Rev. Chandler on August 17 each year.

Even though Rev. Chandler didn't let a famous preacher named George Whitefield speak at his church in 1763–64, St. John's became known for being welcoming to different faiths. The church even married the parents of Elizabeth Ann Seton. She later became the first American-born Roman Catholic saint. For nearly 150 years, both Anglicans (another name for Episcopalians) and Roman Catholics worshipped together at St. John's. This continued until the first Roman Catholic Church in Elizabeth was built in 1855.

The Church Building from 1860

The church building you see today was completed in 1860. Its design was inspired by famous buildings in Oxford, England. The inside looks like St. Mary's University Anglican Church. The outside looks like Merton College, Oxford. This church can seat about 700 people. It is the largest Episcopal worship place in New Jersey.

It once had five very large stained glass windows made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. These were some of the biggest Tiffany windows in the United States. Underneath the church, in an unmarked spot, is where U.S. Senator Jonathan Dayton is buried. He was the youngest person to sign the United States Constitution.

St. John's Today

St. John's has always been a church that welcomes people from all faiths. It still is today! The church's main Sunday service is called the Holy Eucharist or Mass. The church's leaders, called the Vestry, are always confirmed Episcopalians.

In 1993, the church helped start a local branch of Habitat for Humanity. This group helps build homes for people in need. St. John's is known for supporting many community services. Every Sunday, after their 11:00 AM Spanish worship service, they offer a free meal to about 150 people. The Spanish service includes modern Spanish music. After the meal, there's a community party called a fiesta! Everyone is always welcome to visit.

The Rev. Joseph R. Parrish Jr. was the church's Rector Emeritus. He served from 1989 until he retired in 2013. The Rev. Jorge Martinez is currently the Priest-in-Charge. From 2000 to 2014, the church's services were shown on Elizabeth Cablevision Channel 18. Now, you can watch the church's Sunday service on its Facebook page.

Churchyard and Important Burials

The St. John's Episcopal Churchyard is a cemetery located on the church grounds. Many important people are buried here or inside the church itself.

• Jonathan Dayton (1760–1824): He was a U.S. Senator. He was also the youngest person to sign the United States Constitution.
• John De Hart (1727–1795): He served as an Associate Justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1776 to 1777.
• Isaac W. Scudder (1816–1881): He represented New Jersey's 7th congressional district in the U.S. Congress from 1873 to 1875.