St. John's Episcopal Church (Detroit, Michigan)

Infobox_nrhp | name =St. John's Episcopal Church
nrhp_type =

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caption = St. John's Episcopal Church, seen from across Woodward
location= Detroit, Michigan
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 20
lat_seconds = 23.51
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 83
long_minutes = 3
long_seconds = 8.84
long_direction = W
locmapin = Michigan
area =
built =1859
architect= Albert Jordan; James Anderson
architecture= Gothic Revival
added = August 03, 1982
governing_body = Private
mpsub=Religious Structures of Woodward Ave. TR
refnum=82002906cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Parish church
name = St John's Episcopal Church


dedication = Saint John the Apostle
denomination = Episcopal Church USA
tradition = Anglo-Catholic
diocese = Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
province = V
rector = Fr Steven Kelly, SSC
curate = Fr James Fraser IV
assistant = Fr Michael Bedford, SSC
organistdom = Dr Huw R. Lewis, FRCO
website = [http://www.stjohnsdetroit.org www.stjohnsdetroit.org]

St. John's Episcopal Church is located at 2326 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan (at the corner of Woodward and the Fisher Freeway service drive). However, the business address is 50 E Fisher Fwy, Detroit, MI. It is the oldest church still standing on Woodward. [http://www.nr.nps.gov/multiples/64000332.pdf Religious Structures of Woodward Ave. TR] from the National Park Service]

History

The parish of St. John's was organized in Detroit in 1858, primarily due to the effors of Henry Porter Baldwin, a successful merchant (who later became governor of Michigan and a United States senator). [http://www.stjohnsdetroit.org/history/ History page] from St. John's Episcopal Church website] Porter purchased and donated a lot on the northern outskirts of Detroit at the corner of Woodward and High Street (now I-75). Porter also donated money to build a rectory and a 150-seat chapel, designed by Jordan and Anderson.

When the chapel was dedicated in 1859, it was already too small for the burgeoning congregation. A new Church was commissioned from Jordan and Anderson and quickly constructed; it was consecrated on December 10, 1861.

The church is unusual in using the traditional 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer, in combination with the Anglican Missal.

Architecture

St. John's is an excellent example of Victorian Gothic architecture, measuring 170 feet by 65 feet. The belfry, the tallest section of the building, rises 105 feet. The bulk of the exterior is rubble limestone, with the trim made of Kelly Island sandstone. The side walls and roof are supported by buttresses and hammer beam trusses. Decorative gargoyles festoon the roof line and hood moldings above the windows and doors. The interior has galleries cantilevered on three sides; originially there were no intermediary piers to support the roof, giving the church an auditorium feel.

There are six memorial stained glass windows on either side of the nave. These were installed between 1880 to 1954. The upper portions of the windows, above the stained glass, are still the original grisaille and colored glass. An additional window, above the west gallery, was dedicated in 1963.

The altar, installed in 1873, is constructed of white Caen stone altar; it serves as a memorial to the mother of then-Rector George Worthington. Most of the rest of the chancel furnishings were donated as memorials during the renovations in 1892. These include the screen made from wrought iron and Caen stone, the harmonizing pulpit, and the brass lectern. Hand-carved oak clergy and choir stalls were added following the 1936 renovation.

There have been two major architectural alterations to St. John's since the church was built. The first, in 1892, deepened the chancel to create space for the organ console and the choir. This alteration required that the original chapel be taken down and rebuilt ten feet farther east. In 1936, Woodward Avenue was widened. To make way for the wider street, the entire church and chapel were moved 60 feet backwards.

The oldest part of the church, the chapel, still stands, and includes a number of stained glass windows. A State of Michigan historical marker now marks the church. [http://www.michmarkers.com/Pages/L1421.htm St. John's Episcopal Church] from michmarkers.com]

External links

* [http://www.stjohnsdetroit.org/home.html St. John's Episcopal Church]
* [http://www.detroit1701.org/St.%20John%27s%20Episcopal.html St. John's] from Detroit1701.org

References