St. John's Episcopal Church

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A SHORT HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

St. John's Church has survived over 180 years despite natural disasters, floods, economic hard times and a great citywide fire. Yet its parish has flourished, devoted energy to outreach, contributed three bishops, and remained dedicated to the celebration of the Word.

Located at the corner of Liberty and First Streets in downtown Troy, St. John's is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its remarkable brownstone steeple, one of only a few left standing in the country, houses a splendid Meneely 11-bell chime; its Tiffany and other stained glass windows are treasures; and its large parish facilities and lovely gated garden are truly gifts. It is important to note that, through the many years of floods and fires, it was the generosity of members of the parish that renovated, restored and refurbished the facility every time disaster occurred.

While the church is beautiful, it is the works of this parish that mark its history. Its beginnings reflected a parish focused on missionary efforts, an open and diverse gathering of families who have always had great concern for community outreach. In 1831, the second year of the parish, for example, the parish contributed to the support of a struggling Black church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at a time when doing so was unpopular.

Throughout the history of the parish there have been times of great financial concern, particularly after fires that, on several occasions, damaged various parts of the church. The flood of 1913, which ravaged the city, also did great damage to the church and virtually destroyed its organ. The Cluett family, whose shirt collar business later became the Arrow Shirt Company, restored the organ. Their efforts were gratefully received considering the importance of music to the parish. Other parishioners made contributions that are memorialized throughout the sanctuary. In the early 1900s, the parish, plagued with financial woes, was severely affected by World War I, losing many young men in the conflict.

St. John's has long-standing ties with area educational institutions. Emma Willard, a major figure in the movement to educate women, was an active and devoted member of the parish, as was Palmer C. Rickets, longtime Director of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the early 20th century. Mrs. Willard encouraged students at her Troy Female Seminary to attend St. John's Church, teach in the Sunday School and sing in the choir. The church's brownstone spire is dedicated to the memory of her niece, Jane Porter Lincoln, church organist and founder of St. John's music program. Mrs. Willard was also responsible for spearheading efforts to build a missionary school in Athens, Greece, actively supported by the Women of St. John's for many years. The church also sponsored a number of satellite churches in the area until they became strong enough to survive on their own.

St. John's can claim to have given early training to at least four bishops of the Episcopal Church: Henry Codman Potter (1859-66), Nelson M. Burroughs (1930-39), both former rectors; William Morris Barker, who served as an assistant (1878-80); and, most recently, Supply Priest Fr. Mike Chapman. Burroughs' rectorate was particularly important in the history of the parish because of his active role in the Depression era to assist families and particularly unemployed men.

[More images from St. John's history.]

St. John's has an enduring tradition of outreach, from that 19th century missionary school in Athens to today's, active partnership with the Church of the Holy Spirit in Las Cahobas, Haiti. At many points the church has sponsored satellite churches in the area until they were strong enough to survive on their own. Nelson M. Burroughs, rector during the 1930s, guided the church in assisting victims of the Great Depression, particularly families and unemployed men. (Outreach to the area's less fortunate continues today through a popular thrift shop, The Basement on First Street, Inc., serving as a small, low-cost clothing and housewares outlet for the neighborhood.)

Burroughs is also remembered in the diocese for his work to establish summer programs for youth. A spirited Youth Group is encouraged to perform service by cooking periodically for a local homeless shelter and delivering food pantry collections. The Church also reaches out to the community through music. The choir sings, the magnificent Aeolian Skinner organ is exercised in concert and the Meneely chime is rung for the community.

The traditions of encouraging education, outreach and service remain alive and well at St. John's today.

ST. JOHN'S TODAY

Our parish, approaching two centuries of life and service together, used to be centered on the neighborhood of downtown Troy but now draws members from throughout the Capital District. While our parishioners and ministry are of primary importance, we are very aware that our facility is a treasure. We see the buildings both as joy and responsibility, the center of our shared experience.

By many standards we are a well-to-do parish, financially stable though partially dependent on endowment income for our operating budget. Recent major gifts have initiated discussion on how best we can do God's work. We debate: "What is God's work?" We try to question assumptions while holding true to what is good and useful in our traditions.

According to a recent survey, the most important aspects of parish life are Sunday services, Sunday school and music. Other goals include: increased participation; expanded youth education; maintaining the physical plant and the garden; and parish growth. Addressing this wide spectrum of priorities will require discussion, consensus and commitment from the entire parish as we move ahead.

As a congregation we look forward to strengthening our parish community in practice and in spirit, while building our role as an active part of our neighborhood and of the larger community of Troy. Our tradition, diversity and good fortune challenge us to be discursive, open, reflective...and of good faith.

TROY AND THE CAPITAL DISTRICT

Troy is a city that grew by being in the right place at the right time. Located at the head of navigation on the Hudson River and at the start of the Erie and Champlain canals, the city took full advantage of being at the crossroads of major transportation routes. For most of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Troy was nationally known for its iron and steel industries, its bells and surveying instruments, and its shirt and collar factories. It also gained a reputation as a center of innovation in both industry and education. The buildings, educational institutions and cultural resources of Troy today still reflect the industrial wealth and educational heritage of its past.

Troy is located midway between New York City and Boston, Montreal and Syracuse. There is easy access via Interstate highways to the ocean, mountains and ski slopes, and lakes for recreation. Nine colleges and other institutions of higher learning are within a 25-minute drive. Albany, the State Capital, is just minutes away across the Hudson River.

If you haven't been to Troy, you'll soon discover how much fun you can have in its charming downtown. Museums and galleries, interesting antique and specialty shops, and fantastic restaurants will make being in Troy worth your while.

Throughout the year, Troy is bustling with exciting festivals and events, including the annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, the Victorian Stroll in December, The Capital District Flower and Garden Show in March, the Riverfront Arts Festival in June and garden and house tours throughout the summer. Between events there is always first-rate entertainment playing at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, where its world-renowned acoustics have drawn such artists as Wynton Marsalis, Yo Yo Ma and Judy Collins.

Hollywood has featured Troy's historic architecture in such films as The Age of Innocence, Ironweed, Scent of a Woman, The Time Machine, and The Palace Thief.

WORSHIP AT ST. JOHN'S

Services

There are two Sunday services each week, one at 8:00 a.m. (Holy Eucharist) and the other at 10:00 a.m. (Holy Eucharist). The 10:00 a.m. service is followed by a fellowship time in the Parish House in the fall and winter and in the garden in spring and summer.

A Wednesday morning service of Eucharist and Healing is held at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel area. This service has developed a tradition of a "Muffin Club" meeting after the service in the parish house, with a rotating schedule of muffin providers.

Special services each year include "Homecoming," a celebration held in early September to welcome back families and parishioners from their summer travels and holidays. At the end of June each year we also hold a "Recognition Sunday" to acknowledge the achievements of our Sunday school students and teachers and our choir. The Vestry hosts a breakfast recognizing graduating seniors and their families as well.

Lay Participation

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild at St. John's is responsible for the care of the altar, furnishings, linens, flowers and church vestments. After each service this group arranges for delivery of plants and flowers from the altar to the sick and homebound of the parish.

Acolytes, Lectors, Chalice Bearers and Lay Eucharistic Ministers

The parish has a dedicated group of individuals who volunteer their talents for reading and serving at each service. Middle and high school students of the parish are involved as acolytes, and parishioners of all ages serve as lectors. Morning Prayer service is read in part by one of the Lay Eucharistic Ministers, some of whom also provide pastoral care to homebound parishioners.

Greeters and Ushers

Greeters welcome people at the door and bring the gifts of bread and wine to the altar at Communion. Ushers escort people to their pews and take up the offertory. Usually two greeters and four ushers serve each Sunday.

Music: Making a Joyous Sound

Music traditionally is a vital part of worship services at St. John's. A combination of voices, pipe organ, 11-bell chime, and occasional guest artists contribute to our program.

Lead singers provide the foundation for the volunteer choir, which rehearses one evening per week and briefly before the 10:00 a.m. service. The choir sings every week from Homecoming through Recognition Sunday, while organ music and congregational hymn singing continue year-round.

An historic Meneely 11-bell chime sounds a welcome before the 10:00 a.m. service and on special occasions. Built and installed in 1911 by the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company of Troy (replacing an 1875 "West Troy Meneely" chime), it is one of relatively few chimes still played only manually.

It is also one of perhaps two known installations with a ringing mechanism capable of providing two distinct types of sound from the bells, and it is believed to be the only such installation still extant. Plans currently are underway to restore the second ringing mechanism to working order.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS Youth Education The program for the Church School and other youth activities is planned, implemented and evaluated by the Youth Education Committee. This committee is composed of parish volunteers and the staff's Christian Education Coordinator, who recruits the teaching staff for the Sunday studies and the adult coordinators responsible for AM-PM fellowship opportunities. Programs vary from year to year in order to meet the changing needs, interests and talents of the parish. Usually, these changes are reflected in class groups and styles of teaching. Most activities are scheduled to precede the Sunday 10:00 a.m. service. Currently, our Sunday morning youth programs are: Nursery (infants through age 3). The nursery is staffed by a paid childcare provider, available Sunday 9:15 - 11:45 a.m. Attendance averages five, at this time mostly toddlers. Pre-K through Grade 6. All children attend church prior to the church school program. Teams of teachers share the teaching responsibilities using the Episcopal Children's Curriculum. Youth AM-PM (Grades 7-12). Currently, this group of our parish youth is mostly younger teenagers. Teacher teams are scheduled both on topic expertise and availability. Curriculum is based on social and religious issues and their impact on the teenagers' lives. This group of young people is actively involved in outreach activities both within our parish and the community of Troy.

In recent years, the Church School has added a computer room and a small library to its program. The computer room was established as the result of a teenage member working on his Eagle Scout project. The library contains both religious and secular books lovingly donated by parish members. In addition to supervising the Church School program, the Youth Education Committee often plans and directs intergenerational events for the Parish. These events celebrate the major feast days and special parish days of our church calendar. Stimulating intergenerational activities offer children, youth and adults a very desirable sense of connectedness in our church.

Adult Education Adult Education at St. John's takes place primarily before the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Service. Typical adult education classes might include speakers from community organizations, a presentation by an actress portraying the 19th century activist Sojourner Truth and slide presentations by members of our Haiti Committee after visits to our partnership parish in Las Cahobas. Bible study and video presentations also have been part of recent Sunday morning offerings. Adult education outside of Sunday mornings has included Lenten Bible study classes and occasional presentations, such as a recent discussion of the Episcopal Church mission in Sudan, in cooperation with other Troy parishes.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Wardens and Vestry

There are 2 Wardens and 12 Vestry members at St. John's. Wardens are elected to a two-year term and may serve three consecutive terms; Vestry members are elected to a three-year term and may serve two consecutive terms. Terms of office for Vestry members are staggered over a three-year period, with four members up for election each year. Elections are conducted at the annual meeting in April.

Committees

There are four Vestry committees: Finance, Personnel, Properties, and Stewardship. Each committee is headed by a Vestry member, who reports the committee's activities at the monthly Vestry meeting. Vestry members also act as liaisons to other parish committees. Other committees include:

Activities Committee

This Committee is made up of representatives of the various church groups and acts to facilitate church events. We celebrate the Christmas season with a Fair with activities for children and booths where parishioners sell crafts, greens and Christmas treats. We mark Advent, Lent, All Saints Day and Pentecost with special services and programs. Family activities range from potluck suppers for Lenten events, an old-fashioned tea for Mother's Day and a summer picnic. Other events might include theater parties, progressive dinners, special visitor events or concerts.

Outreach Committee

St. John's has a tradition of, and a particularly strong commitment to, outreach beyond the parish. We see outreach as a tangible expression of who we are and what we are about. The Outreach Committee is, after all, the entire community of St. John's.

The Basement on First Street, Inc., commonly known as the thrift shop, provides good household and clothing items to the local community at comfortable prices. Half the proceeds of the Thrift Shop are given to the Outreach Committee to disburse to not-for-profit organizations. The other half of the Committee's income is generated by the annual Christmas Fair.

Other ways in which the people of St. John's are working to make a difference in the community, both local and further afield, have included:

• The AIDS Care Team, acting as a resource for a local family living with AIDS/HIV;
• Construction with Habitat for Humanity, building low-interest homes for needy families;
• Donations of food to the local food pantry;
• The Haiti Committee leads St. John's commitment to our partner parish at Las Cahobas, Haiti;
• Meal preparation at Joseph's House, a Troy homeless shelter;
• Participation in the Crop Walk, to help alleviate hunger; and
• Support of the Troy Area United Ministries.

Staff

The Rev. Robert Haskell, Supply Rector
The Rev. Sandy Tatem, Vocational Deacon
The Rev. Paul M. Carney, Vocational Deacon
Katie Tobler, Youth Minister
Ted Phillips, Organist and Choirmaster
Nancy Lyon, Office Manager
Jason Conway, Sexton

The Vestry

Jim Prout, Senior Warden
Carolyn Smith, Junior Warden
Lucinda Ballard
Bill Daniel
George Firth
Jennifer Fisher
Lois Hodkinson
Scott Morley
Jack Parker
Elissa Prout
Donna Rem
Timothy Schmehl
Linda Stevens
Pat Wilson
Pat Chesterfield, Treasurer
Shirley Parker, Clerk

ST. JOHN'S PHYSICAL PLANT

The Church

St. John's Church occupies most of a city block just south of Russell Sage College. The facility consists of the church building, an attached parish house, a three-story apartment building and a formal memorial garden. Across the street is a parking lot for around 40 automobiles.

The church was built in 1855 of brown Connecticut stone in an English Gothic style. The nave can seat 450. In addition to the nave, the church building contains a narthex, a chime tower, sacristy, a chancel with a handsome marble altar backed by carved stone reredos, and a chapel. The Aeolian Skinner organ has been refurbished in recent years, and a new sound system was installed early in 2001.

St. John's is blessed with historic and dramatic stained glass windows, hallmarked by St. John's Vision of the Holy City, an acknowledged masterpiece created and built by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Vision is five lancets, the largest over 24 feet high. It was completely restored over a three-year period and was reinstalled in December 2000. Another Tiffany window, depicting the Resurrection, is the focal point above the altar.

Behind the Chancel is a choir robing room with bathroom, and a meeting room above. These rooms lead to the Parish house.

Parish House

The main floor of the Parish House features offices, library, full gymnasium and professionally equipped kitchen. The Thompson room is St. John's meeting room, overlooking the Memorial Garden through leaded glass windows. The second floor has a number of furnished classrooms and an office. The basement houses the thrift shop and the Robison Room for youth activities.

The Parish House has been actively used not only for church events, but also by community organizations ranging from Alcoholics Anonymous to assisted learning programs to Russell Sage College special off-site committees.

The Parish House was modernized in 2001. Modernization efforts included offices, phone system, audiovisual systems and furnishings.

Both the Nave of the Church and the Parish House are accessible to the disabled via ramps.

The upkeep and maintenance of St. John's is overseen by the Properties Committee. The Committee prioritizes and approves such sub-capital projects as repairs to the steeple, installation of a new phone system, or purchase of a snow blower. The Sexton is a member of the Properties Committee and works together with the Properties Chairman to implement the Committee's goals.

Memorial Garden

The Memorial Garden at St. John's has been a city institution for over 70 years. After the old rectory was torn down in 1936, an anonymous "group of ladies" petitioned the Rector and Warden to create a "Garden of Memory to enshrine in living and jubilant symbols St. John's love for the hundreds of citizens and churchmen who have walked these paths." Funds to create such a garden came from various memorial gifts and a gala show put on by the husbands of these women. There was also enthusiastic contribution and involvement from city police and fire officials. For many years, St. John's rector had been the chaplain to the Troy Fire and Police Departments. The Troy Police Benevolent Association contributed the wrought iron fence.

The Garden was dedicated in 1938 with a huge celebration involving City officials, Police and Fire officers and visiting church dignitaries. A Statue of St. Francis was added in 1942 -- a gift of the Daughters of St. John. Additional benches, a ramp to provide access by the disabled to the Parish House and other memorial items have been added in recent years. [See images of the Garden under construction!]

Through the years, a Garden Committee has tended both the annual plantings and the maintenance of the perennials and shrubs. The Garden frequently is used for after-church refreshments as well as parties and receptions. It is fully supported by memorial gifts.

DIRECTIONS TO ST. JOHN'S

St. John's is located on 1st Street in Troy, New York, at the corner of Liberty Street, two blocks south of Congress Street. (map of the area)

LINKS

Since January 2001 -- asm