St. John's Episcopal Church, Canandaigua
| St. John's Episcopal Church | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Basic information | |
| Location | Canandaigua (city), New York |
| Affiliation | The Episcopal Church |
| Website | St. John's Episcopal Church |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Emlyn T. Littel |
| Architectural type | church |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1872 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | West |
| Materials | Limestone, Stained glass, slate roof |
The Episcopal presence in Canandaigua,New York begins about 1799 with the St. Matthew Society, a missionary group. St. John's Episcopal Church was organized in 1814 and first met in the Ontario County, New York Court House in Canandaigua. St. John's erected a wooden church building in 1816. Bishop John Henry Hobart consecrated it that year. The brick rectory was constructed alongside the church in 1851. Steady congregational growth necessitated more space. This led to the razing of the first church and the constructing of the current, larger stone Gothic building done in the parish church style popular in the 19th century. Emlen T. Littel of New York, who was also the architect of Zion Episcopal Church (Palmyra, New York) designed the building. This church was constructed in 1872 at a cost of $47,000 (approximately $850,000 today) and consecrated in 1886. It contains several windows from the earlier wooden church, elaborate new stained glass windows imported from Europe, and one—The Parables Window—was designed by Daniel Cottier(1837–1891), who was considered an important influence on Louis Comfort Tiffany. In 1908, new hardwood floors, choir stalls, and an organ were installed. The parish house and a chapel were added at the same time. In 1964-65, an addition to parish house included classrooms, a new chapel, and a dining/ meeting room added to celebrate the church’s 150th anniversary. Recent additions include a columbarium with a capacity of 136 niches and a memorial garden, outside the church, reached through the columbarium and chapel in the south transept.
Historical Timeline
1796 Missionary services begun in Canandaigua by Robert G. Wetmore
1799 February 4, first Episcopal congregation in Canandaigua, St. Matthew's, organized by The Right Rev. Philander Chase, Bishop.
1814 September 27, St. John's Church organized. Met in courthouse.
1816 December 12, first church building consecrated by Bishop John Henry Hobart; a wooden gothic structure on site of present church, costing $14,000.
1815 The Rev. Alanson Welton, Rector.
1815 - 1819 The Rev. Dr. Henry Ustick Onderdonk, Rector.
1820 The Rev. William Barlow, Rector.
1834 First Rectory on Gibson Street. House given by Mr. Grieg moved from N. Main Street to lot given by Mr. Gibson.
1836 - 1842 The Rev. Augustus Palmer Prevost, Rector.
1844 The Rev. Joseph Wayland, Rector
1851 Present Rectory build at cost of $4,000.
1867 Church enlarged with 26 additional pews, repaired, painted, stoves removed and furnace added. Cost over $16,000.
1869- 1875 The Rev. C. M. Nickerson, Rector.
1872 Original church torn down. New church erected, of stone with spire atop tower. Cost of $47,000 left parish with large debt. The present church was designed by Emlyn T. Littel of New York who was also the architect of Zion Episcopal Church in Palmyra, New York. St. John's is built of various kinds of stone and its intricate and colorful display of stained glass windows is one of the most impressive in this area.
1880 Bell installed as memorial to Moses Atwater, first Warden, by descendants
1886 May 6, church consecrated after payment of debt.
1892 -1905 The Rev. Charles J. Clausen, Rector.
1895 Permanent endowment fund established with legacy of $1,000, "interest only to be applied to current expense of the church."
1907 The Rev. Herbert Gaylord became Rector, serving for 32 years.
1908 Hardwood floors, choir stalls, and organ installed in church. New Parish house and chapel built.
1923 Rectory repaired and improved at cost of $15,000.
1928 Spire removed from church building after being found unsafe.
1939 -1944 The Rev. Eugene Marsden Chapman, Rector
1940 Chapel established in south transept of church in memory of Frances Paul; $500 bequeathed to church by Frances Paul used for altar appointments. Organ rebuilt, electrified, chimes and other stops added. Mr. Donald Scott became organist a few years later and served with a brief interruption for more than 32 years.
1944 -1959 The Rev. Robert C. Dunn, Rector
1959 -1970 The Rev. Harold D. Avery, Rector
1951 Church building completely redecorated.
1965 Addition to parish house providing 5 classrooms, chapel, and dining/meeting room. Organ rebuilt.
1970 -1986 The Rev. Robert W. Withington, Rector. Rectory named for him.
1974 Extensive work on organ after decision to preserve it in preference to installing an electronic organ.
1986 -1990 The Rev. James A. Hubbard, Rector.
1987 St. John's begins to host the Gleaners Community Kitchen, a community run ministry of providing meals to those in need in the community.
1992-93 Restoration of stained glass windows
1993-2008 The Rev. Albert J. Keeney, Rector
2000 Major restoration of Nave
1996-2010 Mrs. Ann Louise Pera serves as organist for St. John's Church; named Organist Emerita upon retirement.
2008-2013 The Rev. Richard D. Krapf, Deacon
2010 (May) - Columbarium and chapel dedicated and blessed by the Right Reverend Prince Grenville Singh, Ph.D., Bishop of Rochester.
2010 (July) - The Rev. David Hefling, AOJN+, Rector
2011 - Complete redesign/restructuring of the parish hall to expand space and use as a reception area. Garden is designed and developed in backyard for Gleaners Community Kitchen use. Gardening program is launched.
2012 - Chapel is named, officially, "All Saints Chapel."
2013 - 2014 St. John's Bicentennial (1814 - 2014) begins with The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts-Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, as the first preacher and Celebrant. The celebration continues through the year with guest preachers, the Rev. Dr. Frank Yamada, President of McCormick Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL), the Rev. Gay Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, the Episcopal Church (Cleveland, OH), The Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle, President of Colgate-Rochester Crozer Divinity School (Rochester, NY) and ending in celebration with the Right Reverend Prince Grenville Singh, Ph.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Rochester (Rochester, NY).
2014 - 2017 - The Very Rev. David Hefling, ObJN+, Dean of the Northeast District.
2015 - Capital Campaign plans are made and campaign begins with assistance of the Episcopal Church Foundation and parishioner, Suzanne Blatchford as Chair.
2016 - Removal of the choir pews/stalls and a row of pews on Nave floor. All floors refinished, sealed, and choir chairs given by parishioners and families. Accessible restroom installed on main floor of the building by dividing Sacristy in half; gift of Jim and Jane Holden. Grant received from Sacred Sites to help with restoration of stained glass windows.
2017 - All windows in the education wing and dining room/kitchen are removed and replaced. All stained glass windows cleaned, restored, and recovered with new polymer covering. Wooden frames all repaired and painted. Work completed by the Willet-Hauser Architectural Glass of Winona, Minnesota. Gear-driven bell system replaced with new digital system from a bequest of Don Case.
Organs of St. John's Church
1816 Original organ in St. John's Church was built by Henry Erben.
1872 Original organ rebuilt by A. B. Felgemaker Organ Company of Erie, Pennsylvania.
1908 New organ installed in North Transept by Felgemaker at a cost of $3,000. Original organ sold for $400.
1940 Organ moved up to Chancel and modernized by adding pipes and chimes.
1963 Organ moved across Chancel and repaired.
1965 Organ rebuilt and some stops added.
1974 Extensive repair needed due to water damage.
1985 Organ rebuilt and restored due to water damage and other problems
2016 Completely new organ console designed, made, and installed by Parson's Organ Company with a generous gift from a parish family. (TBA)
2017 New and restored pipes refitted and installed by Parson's Organ Company
External links
History of Churches of Canandaigua New York
Sermon Preached in St. John's Church after the Assassination of President Lincoln
Coordinates: 42°53′37.48″N 77°17′5.46″W / 42.8937444°N 77.2848500°W