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Chapter Five
Saint John Episcopal Church By James Wudarczyk If there ever was a religious institution that had a history of ups and downs, it was Saint John Episcopal Church. Founded at the Allegheny Arsenal on February 14, 1833, by thirty-four charter members, this parish continued for approximately one hundred thirty year history. However, at intervals the congregation faced very rocky times, whereby it was unable to sustain itself financially and came close to disbanding the parish. As in the case of most other aspects of local histories, the church history not only provides us with a record of the institution but also helps to provide names of persons affiliated with the institution.
At the meeting conducted at the Allegheny Arsenal, the founders of Saint John’s set forth in a document filled with quaint, flowery, and now obsolete language the purpose for the founding of a new house of worship. They contended it was to “display but not ostentatiously, only with simple reliance upon truth, the banner of Apostolic and Primitive Order.” The Articles of Association were composed and signed by Peter Mowry, George A. Bayard, Alba Fisk, James McClurg, Joseph Wainwright, A. Beckham, George Schreimer, Samuel Kissuch, Alfred Richardson, Robert Cinfold, Rector of Trinity Church, and by Reverend Dr. Lacey, Principal of the Western Female College Institute.
When the church celebrated its centennial in 1933, it carried a brief history of those early days in “The Church News.” Sadly this is one of the few documents existing that relates to the subject of the parish. Based on this document, work progressed swiftly to construct a new house of worship. On February 23, 1833, only nine days after the drafting of the articles of incorporation, “a committee was authorized to purchase a lot for a church, and an estimate of $890.00 for the building of the church was accepted.” The corner stone was laid on April 27, 1833. Reverend Dr. Lacey presided at the service. During the summer a storm destroyed part of the building. However, by September 8, Lieutenant Beckley, the Lay Reader, conducted a service, and a session of the Sunday School was held in the new building. This school had 21 scholars and five teachers. The Reverend Thomas Crumpton (Deacon), the first Rector of the parish, entered upon his duties January 5, 1834.
According to church records, Right Reverend H. U. Onderdonk, Assistant Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, consecrated the new edifice on July 19, 1834. Apparently it was quite a celebration for the new congregation. Not only had they witnessed the consecration of their new church, but on that same day the Reverend Mr. Crumpton was ordained to the priesthood, Mr. B. B. Killikelly was ordained to the deaconate, twelve persons were confirmed, and Holy Communion was celebrated for the first time in the new church.
The following day, however, Crumpton preached his farewell sermon since he was reassigned to Christ Church in Meadville. For the next few years, the parish had a number of pastors. By August of 1834, pressing financial affairs forced the congregation to merge with Christ Church in Allegheny, and share a ctor in the person of Reverend Mr. Hilton. Hilton served both congregations until the end of 1835. Based on the scant information available, there appears to be a gap between December 1835 and September 1836, before another rector was assigned to Saint John’s. Reverend J. W. Hoffman served both the Lawrenceville and Allegheny congregations until his resignation in 1837. It was somewhat ironic that while the parish was facing financial insolvency in 1837, the Harris Directory of the same year praised the Episcopal congregation for being the smallest of the Lawrenceville denominations, yet the one with the largest church. The financial burden was so great that the congregation sold their church to the Methodists for $1,450.00, which was the original cost of construction, and for the next ten years they held services in halls and rented rooms.
The vestry held a meeting in the office of Allegheny Cemetery on July 9, 1856, and petitioned the Reverend G. T. Rider to become rector of Saint John’s. This committee also voted to erect a new church at a cost not to exceed $1,500.00. One of the provisions related to the new church was that two-thirds of the pews were to be free, and the balance rented. A committee consisting of Messrs. Chislett, McClure, and Schoenberger was also commissioned to raise subscriptions for the new edifice.
As might be expected, the new church ended up costing the congregation twice what was anticipated.
By 1862 it appeared that the hard times were behind the Lawrenceville Episcopalians since the congregation was able to offer Reverend Charles C. Edmunds a salary of $600.00 and an allowance of $100.00 for a rectory. There is further evidence of the new prosperity by the fact that in July 1862 the Vestry approved the borrowing of $2,000.00 for the purpose of building a rectory and school on the church lot.
Apparently the period of prosperity was short and the parish returned to a period of financial difficulties. A number of rectors had very short terms, and the Trustees for the Diocese held the property in trust for the parish. Eventually the church had to be closed. Unfortunately the brief parish history did not date this period.
It was not until 1901 that a new edifice was erected. When consecrating the church on December 27, 1901, Bishop Whitehead related his experiences with the Lawrenceville church. “I repaired to the building to find it in the most dreadful condition just as it had been left, and the key turned in the door fully two years before. The grime and smoke of Pittsburgh had settled on it and within it. The altar remained as it had been at the end of the last service held. It was a sight to make angels weep, and there seemed little or nothing to be done. The tiny vestry room had been swept out and a fire made, and there I met several members of the vestry and conferred with them as to the revival of services. It is not possible for others to realize how many such anxieties a Bishop has to meet.”
Another reference in the short history noted, “The Reverend E. A. Angell succeeded as Priest-in-Charge in 1882 and remained for about three years. However, in May 1884, the whole property, valued at $30,000.00, was offered for sale. Two more short rector ships followed Angell’s departure. Finally on September 1, 1888, the Reverend William N. Webb was called to serve the Lawrenceville congregation. During his rector ship, forty feet of frontage on Butler Street was sold, the debts of the parish paid off, and $10,000.00 placed in the fund for the new church. Work began on a new edifice in the late 1880’s finished early in 1892. At this time the Reverend T. Jefferson Danner became Rector, and his first task was to furnish the entire church and to put life into the entire fabric of the parish. Although he found a debt of nearly $6,000.00 and a rectory in need of repair, by 1901 the service of Consecration was held.
“For nearly twenty years this godly man served the parish with a superabundance of love and personal consecration. He had hardly entered upon his ministry before he addressed a strong pastoral letter to all his flock, and in it set the high standard for service and spirituality he always maintained. His ministry is remembered by many of the present generation, as his death occurred only twenty years ago. ‘Father’ Danner,’ as he was often called, is still considered the ‘Father’ of the parish. He resigned in October 1907, and was succeeded by the Rev. Clarence M. Conant, M.D. Upon his resignation, the Reverend Mr. Danner again assumed the rector ship and continued as such until October, 1912, when the Rev. Thomas Richard Yates started his rector ship of nine years.”
By 1915 the old rectory was abandoned as a parsonage, and the facility was used to house various parish activities. The parishioners thought so highly of Reverend Danner that they erected a tablet in the main hall in honor of him:
A.D. 1915
Dedicated this Building
By the Vestry of Saint John’s Church
As a Parish House in memory of
the late
THOMAS JEFFERSON DANNER
Rector 1892-1907
Rector Emeritus 1907-1911
Rector 1911-1913
“The Memory of the Just is Blessed” <
A new parish house was erected in 1922 in the rear of the church at a cost of approximately $12,000.00. This was connected to the church as one unit. Six years later, in 1928, a rectory was purchased in the Morningside section of Pittsburgh. According to the 1933 account, “The whole fabric of the parish is clear of any mortgage.” <
Between 1922 and 1933 when the parish history was compiled, three rectors served the spiritual needs of the congregation: Rev. Milton S. Kanaga, 1922-1925; Rev. Rodney Brace, 1925—1928, and Rev. J. Fredrik Virgin, 1928 –1933.
The parish history also acknowledged Mr. W. R. Cuthbert, a senior warden who served for over thirty-four years, and Mrs. Edward Armstrong, for her thirty-eight years of service as president of the Woman’s Guild. <
This publication also proudly noted that Saint John’s was one of the “Mother Parishes” of the Diocese since “everywhere there are those who proudly proclaim the fact that they were baptized there, or received their early Christian training within its walls.” <
Although the parish continued until the early 1960’s, there were signs as early as 1933 that the days of Saint John’s were numbered. Reverend J. Fredrik Virgin apparently wrote the 1933 history because his initials appeared at the bottom of the short treatise. In his concluding paragraphs, Reverend Virgin noted, “The oncoming of the industrial era wrought many changes in old Lawrenceville, and the community, once counting itself as one of the most select and desirable of the city, lost that character before the incoming of the foreign born. Still, there are many of the old families who refuse to severe the ties which bind them to the community or the parish. Today, there are about 250 families scattered over the greater Pittsburgh area who still call the church ‘Home,’ and who call upon her clergy for ministrations. Administration is made more difficult by the fact that 29 boroughs or suburbs as well as 98 different streets house the families of the parish. <
“The parish is not endowed and as in the early days, continues to struggle, but the spirit and willingness to serve is in no way impaired. With the return of prosperity the work will go on with renewed vigor and added vision. In recent years more and more emphasis has been placed on service to the community, and the parish is rapidly assuming a place of leadership in that realm. <
“Owing to the imperfectly kept records of early days, it is not possible to give an accurate statement of ‘Official Acts.’ A count, however, shows the following:
baptisms - 2,058, confirmations - 1,263, marriages – 442, and burials - 1,170. <
“The present Vestry are: W. R. Cuthbert, Senior Warden; John W. Irvine, Junior Warden; L. K. Hamilton, Secretary; T. J. Danner, Treasurer; C. T. Connell, George H. Danner, James R. Douglas, Donald M. Sallade, L. W. McGonigle.” <
In the 1960’s, Saint John Episcopal Church was razed to make way for Mellon Bank at the corner of Main and Butler Streets. <
SOURCES
“Saint John’s Church, Lawrenceville: 1833-1933,” The Church News, April 1933, pages 6-8.
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