St John's Episcopal Church

About

Sunday Services:
• 8:00 a.m. Holy Communion
• 9:00 a.m. Adult Bible Study
• 10:30 a.m. Family Service with Music

Story

THE HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S

St. John’s Episcopal Church in the town of Tappahannock (Essex County) is located in the heart of historic Tidewater Virginia.

St. John’s is one of two churches established to replace the colonial buildings of South Farnham Parish that were lost during a lengthy period of confusion, impoverishment, legal entanglements and neglect that followed the Revolutionary War.

First, in 1820, came the Town Chapel (a.k.a. Tappahannock Chapel), deeded to the Episcopal Church, and used by four local denominations. It has survived as the present site of Modern Cleaners.

Next, in 1838, under the dynamic aegis of the Reverend John Peyton McGuire, a young Episcopal priest who was known as the “Apostle to the Rappahannock,” the cornerstone was laid for St Paul’s Church in the neighboring town of Miller’s Tavern.

In 1849, St. John’s vestry decided to erect a new building to replace the Town Chapel. That October, land was acquired, and a year later, in 1850, the present St. John’s Church was completed and occupied. The Reverend McGuire, St. John’s first rector, is buried in St. John’s churchyard and memorialized by a Tiffany window with a cross commemorating Reverend John Peyton McGuire, “Apostle to the Rappahannock”, founder of the church.

CLERGY: Reverend Dr. Candine E Johnson - Priest-in-Charge

Other Services:
• Prayer Group
• Healing Service

Mission

OUR MISSION

The mission of St. John’s is to give the knowledge and love of God and his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; to worship, study, and pray together; to support and love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ; and by our words and actions, to demonstrate God’s love for the world in Christ.

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SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Outreach and ECW were recently combined so that all church women may concentrate on giving help to those whose needs are not met by existing aid sources. For many years, our
activities have centered on assisting area agencies such as The Haven (a refuge for abused
women); Community Services Food Bank; Christmas gifts for needy children; raising the
wherewithal for scholarships awarded to deserving high school students; and services for our own, be they shut-ins or otherwise in need. Five years ago we began preparing and serving free dinners for those less fortunate, and on the fourth Monday at 6:00 p.m., we can expect some 120 people.

More recently, other area churches have joined the cause, so that each Monday night, meals for the needy are available.

We are closely affiliated with St. Margaret’s School, an Episcopal girls boarding and day school
located just across Water Lane from St. John’s. One Sunday a month, groups of its students
come to worship with us, and the institution’s baccalaureate ceremony and other rites are
conducted here. As well, our esteemed choir director and organist * is a member of the St.
Margaret’s faculty, responsible for its music program.

*Among his many professional honors is the designation of Master Choirmaster, conferred by Britain’s Royal School of Church Music.

The Ann Riggs Chapter of Daughters of the King was formed in 2011, with 12 members. Their mission centers on prayer, service, evangelism, strengthening the spiritual life of the parish, and supporting the Priest-In-Charge.