st. john’s history

In 1766 the Rev. Bela Hubbard, a missionary from London, took the bold step of conducting the first Episcopal services in a section of Old Saybrook, CT called Potopaug. The Rev. Hubbard followed the doctrine, discipline, and worship practices of the Church of England. The Connecticut Valley had been settled for many years before Hubbard’s visit, but the colonies were Puritan and allowed no Anglican churches. The Revolutionary War interrupted further development until 1790. St. John’s came into existence that year as the First Episcopal Society of Old Saybrook. Uriah Hayden, a prominent local shipbuilder and tavern keeper was the Warden for the new parish, which included twenty-two residents of Essex. This group signed an agreement to fund the building of the first church building, which was erected in 1793 near the Essex train station. This building replaced a one-room schoolhouse that was taken apart and reconstructed as the taproom at the Griswold Inn in Essex near the previous Rectory. The church was consecrated in 1797, and services were led by Solomon Blakesley, a layman from East Haddam.

Uriah Hayden, an active member and founder of the early parish, selected the name St. John’s. Other founders included Timothy Starkey, David Williams, Elisha Mather, Noah Scovell, and Asa Williams. They purchased tickets in the Hartford Statehouse Lottery to raise money for the new church and to cover the salary of the Rev. William Green, who was hired in 1790. There is no record to indicate that anyone in the parish won the lottery. They also contributed $38.50, which covered Rev. Green’s salary for six months.

About 1800, the building was moved to Prospect Street, where its foundations can still be seen. A steeple was added in 1817, and in 1821 St. John’s was enlarged and consecrated.

The new church took seven months to build. It was made of stone from the quarry at Joshua Rocks in Hamburg Cove. The design was of a Romanesque or Norman style of architecture. It was considered an outstanding example of that type of architecture in the diocese and praised for its beauty. The architect, Joseph W. Northrop of Bridgeport, incorporated the beautiful old stained glass windows from the former church and new ones imported from England into the design. Their Tiffany glass is now priceless.

A year before the new building was consecrated, Mary Hayden Tucker, widow of Captain Tucker and a descendent of Uriah Hayden, died and left her home to the church to be used as a Rectory. The house was built in 1807 and is believed to be the first brick structure in Essex. The home originally belonged to Samuel Hayden, a descendant of one of the original founders. Mary’s will stipulated that their portraits must always be displayed on the first floor of the home as a memorial, and they did until the Rectory was later sold outside of St. John’s. The original Rectory turned Parish House and was torn down in 1927, and the east wing of the church was made into a parish house by excavating the basement and creating a kitchen, classrooms, or meeting rooms. A new heating system was also installed. Years passed, and eventually, the mortgage was paid, and a mortgage burning celebration was held.

Rectors came and went. St. John’s Altar Guild and Women’s Auxiliary were branches of St. John’s Parish Guild organized by Rev. Parker Vanamee. Through the efforts of the Junior Guild, made up of girls of high school age, and a group of devoted women, the redecoration of St. John’s was made possible in 1940. One Rector, Rev. Thomas H. Vail, whose portrait hangs in the Rector’s office, went on to become Bishop of Kansas some twenty years after serving St. John’s.

In September 1978, the church was again rededicated after an extensive repair and renewal program, which included a new furnace, cleaning of the woodwork, ceiling, marble columns, and stained glass windows. The walls were painted, the floor refinished, and new carpeting installed throughout the building. The women of the parish made new kneeling cushions for the altar rail and Sanctuary. They incorporated symbols of the Christian tradition in needlepoint designs. The repair and renewal program was funded by pledges from the congregation, amounting to $30,000.

In 1982, the Undercroft of the church was completely redesigned and decorated. This room is used extensively for meetings, social gatherings, and Sunday school classes. This project was made possible by a memorial fund for a parishioner, Harper Woodward. It was dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1982.

In 1993, the Rev. Hope Adams was called to be St. John’s Rector. Since the Rev. Adams was to live in the St. John’s Rectory, known as the Hayden House and built in 1807, extensive renovations were required before the new Rector could move in. Much of the work was accomplished by parishioners, and the house received many improvements to include a new kitchen, improved bathroom facilities, fresh paint, and wallpaper.

Although she was the first woman to be called Rector, the Rev. Adams knew what the people of St. John’s wanted for a new Rector, and she fulfilled the need for services following a traditional Episcopal format with well prepared and delivered sermons.

Soon after Rev. Adams arrived she realized that the church itself was in need of some improvements: The slate roof needed repairs; the crowded Parish House was being shared by the church office, the choir room, and the sacristy, all needing more space; the Rector needing an office had moved into the library, the kitchen needed to be remodeled, a new heating plant was required; Sunday school classroom space was needed; the church was limited to two small bathrooms, and there was no accessibility for the handicap.