From the 1980 History of Clinton County
St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at the corner of Mead and Walker Street has been an organized church since 1864 and marked its 116th year in October of 1980. The present church building is of early English architecture and contains many beautiful memorial stained glass windows. Its membership included many individuals who helped build the village of St. Johns. Its young men served in the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. The [1980] parish family, under the guidance of Rev. Robert Coval, is striving to attain and maintain Christian stewardship in the parish family and missionary areas.
The earliest record of the Episcopal Church service in the present community was before 1853 when the village of St. Johns was first begun, and the Rector of St. Paul’s in Lansing held periodic meetings.
Twelve persons signed and delivered a notice of organization of St. John’s Church, St. Johns, Michigan, on Mav 25,1858. This little Society did not long survive due to a lack or services with a regular priest or place of worship. During the Civil War there were no more parish activities.
A reorganization was effected under the old name in April, 1864 and services were held by the visiting Rev. Thomas B. Dooley. Surprisingly the parish family grew in number and a rector of its own and a place to meet were given to the parish. At first they met in the upper floor of the George Stephenson store, rent free, and then at the present_location after it was vacated by the schools in 1866. Plans for building a church were begun and on April 25, 1867, the cornerstone of the new building was laid and in November, 1867 the church was opened for religious services.
The first church was of Gothic design and constructed of wood. It was improved many times and a bell tower was added. Thirty minutes after the completion of Easter services, April, 1892, the church burned.
Plans were drawn for a new structure by Rogers and McFarlan, Detroit Architects. The cornerstone for the new building was laid August 3, 1893. A mortgage of $4,000 was necessary because of financial problems of the times. The first service was the sunrise celebration of the Holy Communion on Easter Day, March 25, 1894.
The indebtedness of the church building was paid off six months before due. Plans were made for the Church’s dedication and it was determined to make June 19, 1898, a day to long remember. The Certificate of Dedication is framed and hangs on the Sacristy wall.
In 1908 a vested choir was organized with twenty five members.
In 1924 three memorial tablets were placed in the church and the American Legion presented a flag and pole.
In 1932 the interior of the church was redecorated and extensive repairs made. The parish list showed 190 baptized persons and 149 communicants.
The following decades have seen the renovation of the church undercroft to provide a modern kitchen and dining room, choir room and restroom, a custom made wooden pulpit, a new brick and stone lighted outdoor sign, new electrical lighting system, organ improvements, new memorial windows, a memorial votive light, a new Church school building, a Garden of all Saints and the purchase of the brick rectory on Walker Street.
