History of St. John's Church “One generation passeth away and another generation cometh;
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St. John's Churchyard St. John's has intact records for our cemetery, which dates back to the late eighteenth century, and includes the grave of Revolutionary War patriot Lt. Aaron Chew. The cemetery is listed on the National Historic Register, as well. Recently, the names of the nearly 700 men, women and children who are buried here were listed on Find-a-Grave.com A photograph of each grave marker that is still standing and legible was uploaded, too. Search for St. John's, in Camden County, NJ. If you believe an ancestor was buried in our cemetery, we invite you to look through the St. John's interments on Find-a-Grave. Please note: if your ancestor is not listed, he or she is not buried here. |
Our story began in 1789…
The history of St. John's Parish is a reflection of the history of our country from Revolutionary times to the present, born out of the desire of local farmers, shopkeepers and craftsmen to establish a place to worship God with their families. At a meeting held on November 14, 1789, St. John's Church at the Head of Timber Creek was established under the denomination of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America. Records of that first meeting, as well as a list of financial and gift contributions from area residents, have become treasured artifacts of St. John's beginnings.
Monies collected were not adequate to complete the original red cedar church that was raised in August of 1790. Aaron Chew, a local war hero, was charged with seeking more funds. In addition to local residents, Mr. Chew sought the help of friends from the Revolutionary War, many of whom were members of the Congress that was meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, our nation's capital at the time. This list of contributors reads like a WHO'S WHO of the early history of our country. Among the contributors were three signers of the Declaration of Independence, the first Speaker of the House of Representatives, a future Director of the U.S. Mint and several early state governors and U.S. congressional representatives. George Washington and James Madison round out this distinguished list.
Early records indicated that the Rev. Levi Heath had charge of St. John's, along with two other congregations, from 1789 to 1794, after which itinerant missionary priests were assigned by the Bishop to come as often as possible. From 1836 to 1850, the Rev. Hiram R. Harrold was rector of the church.
The nineteenth century…
Following 1850, the church began a period of decline, even closing for a time. St. Paul's, in what is now the city of Camden, was responsible for the revival of St. John's around 1860. A Sunday School, which grew to one hundred pupils, was formed by two ladies from St. Paul's. That church's rector, the Rev. Joseph F. Garrison, held monthly services at St John's for about ten years.
The Rev. Gustavus Murray, rector of Grace Church, Haddonfield, began serving our congregation about 1872. His ten-year tenure saw substantial growth within the church. St. John's Guild was founded and a new church building was constructed during Rev. Murray's service. Plans for the new church were drawn by noted Philadelphia architect, George Watson Hewitt. Edmund Brewer, a local shipbuilder, donated the stone that was brought from a quarry in Pennsylvania on his scows. Area residents then carried the stone by wagon from the landing to the building site. The new church would stand in front of the 1790 church. The Right Reverend John Scarborough, Bishop of New Jersey, laid the cornerstone on November 14, 1880. He also consecrated the handsome stone structure on November 9, 1881. When the old church was torn down, its wood was used in the construction of carriage sheds across the street.
The Rev. William Matthias became the first resident rector here on November 1, 1883. During his service, a rectory was built in 1885, on a lot opposite the church. This land was deeded by Richard H. Herring, a former New Jersey State Senator. Miss E. Montgomery raised most of the money for this structure, as well as for the new church.
The early twentieth century…
The next 30 years represented a period of slow growth. The congregation, made up of people of small means, struggled to keep up the church properties and their pledges. From March 1, 1913 until November 1, 1917, the Rev. Samuel Hanger served the parish. These years began a period of new life for the church. In 1915, the current parish hall was built opposite the church, through the generosity of Miss Diadema Perce.
July 1927 brought the Rev. Charles Wheeler Coit to St. John's. His ministry was during the period of the Depression and he was indeed a servant of and for the people in those difficult days. During the Depression, the church suffered another decline and became financially dependent on the Diocese. The Diocese also supplied us with clergy during this time. Despite these conditions, necessary renovations were made in the church and parish hall by the parishioners.
The arrival of the Rev. Frank Bloxham and his family in 1949 saw a reversal of spirits within the church. The key to Fr. Bloxham's leadership was his definite conviction that “with God all things are possible.” St. John's grew under his guidance and regained its Parish status. The present rectory was purchased in 1957, before Fr. Bloxham retired in 1965. The devotion of the Bloxham family and Fr. Bloxham’s legacy are still remembered fondly.
Late twentieth century…
For the following six years (1965-1971) the Rev. Charles R. Brace took charge of the Parish. He was a husky man with a strong voice. He served the Parish at a time when the country went through tremendous turmoil and faced many challenges. One of the young Parish members committed suicide with a friend as a protest against the Vietnam War. Fr. Brace was distraught by their deaths and experienced a nervous breakdown. Eventually he left the church.
For 25 years, beginning in 1972, the Rev. Robert E. Sullivan, in his quiet and gentle way, guided the family that is St. John's and helped us reach many milestones. The parish hall was renovated and enlarged in 1974. Other improvements included a new pipe organ, air conditioning and the refurbishing of the pews. During Fr. Sullivan's service, St. John's membership grew to 230 families. The church building was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, and the churchyard was listed as a National Historic Site in 1980. The 100th anniversary of our present church building's consecration was observed in 1981. Last, but not least, St. John's Parish celebrated its 200th anniversary with great joy in 1989.
The Parish has had three pastors, two interim pastors and, after three years of searching, one permanent pastor since Fr. Sullivan’s retirement in 1997. Fr. Larry Morrison served the Parish on an interim basis for three years (1998-2000). He was followed by the Rev. Mary Jean Metzger, who took over for a year in 2000; Mother Metzger was the first female pastor to serve the Parish. The Rev. Patrick Hunt was our interim priest from 2001 - 2004. Finally, the Rev. Daniel W. Hinkle became our interim priest in 2005, continuing the regular ministry services and guiding St. John’s through our transition period
As we move into a new century…
Our current rector, the Rev. Margaret Sterchi, accepted our call and began her service at St. John's on December 16, 2006. Her ministry among us has opened the door, once again, to a flourishing period of growth and a guiding spirit during times of change within the Episcopal Church. New and expanded programs, and new members joining St. John's, are both positive indications that the Holy Spirit is at work within our parish family.
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St. John's vestry |
St. John's Parish family has shared many tears and much joy for over two hundred years. Through it all, this small church on the hill has stood like a beacon of hope. All you have to do is enter the doors of St. John's and view the larger-than-life stained glass window depicting our Lord Jesus Christ with His outstretched arms, waiting. If you listen closely, you can hear Him say, “Come unto me all you who are troubled or heavy laden and I will refresh you.”
The Rectors of St. John's
1789 –1794
Levi Heath
1919 -1927
Michael J. Hoffman
1797 –1798
Andrew Fowler
1927 -1934
Charles Wheeler Coit
1804 -1807
Henry James Feltus
1934 -1935
Walter P. Crossman
1807 -1809
Charles H. Wharton
1936 -1937
John deB. Saunderson
1809 -1810
Daniel Higbee; Simon Wilmer
1937 -1938
Raymond B. Miller
1810 -1811
Charles H. Wharton;
Simon Wilmer
1938 -1941
Russell Clapp
1812 -1815
Daniel Higbee
1942 -1949
Thomas B. Bray
1836 -1850
Hiram R. Harrold
1949 -1965
Flank Bloxham
1860 -1870
Joseph F. Garrison
1965 -1971
Charles R. Brace
1872 -1882
Gustavus M. Murray; R. G. Moses
1972- 1997
Robert E. Sullivan, Jr.
1883 -1887
William Matthias
1998-2000
Larry C. Morrison (interim)
1887 -1889
Alden Welling
2000-2001
Mary Jean Metzger (interim)
1889 -1890
Harry McDowell
2001-2004
Patrick Hunt (interim)
1890 -1912
Thomas Gordon
2005-2006
Daniel W. Hinkle (interim)
1913 -1917
Samuel E. Hanger
2006-
Margaret Sterchi
