St.
John's Anglican Church
3728 Payson Road Quincy, IL 62301 ph: (217) 222-3241 fax: (217) 222-3435
An authentic Anglican expression of the Catholic Faith in Quincy, IL
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3728 Payson Road Quincy, IL 62301 ph: (217) 222-3241 fax: (217) 222-3435 An authentic Anglican expression of the Catholic Faith in Quincy, IL |
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A Brief History of Our Parish
The village of Quincy was incorporated in
1834. At that time there was a population of six or seven hundred persons,
scattered between Vermont and Delaware, Third and Eighth streets. The
village's few streets were actually rough trails and lanes.
In 1835, a notice appeared in The Illinois
Bounty Land Register, Quincy's first newspaper, advertising a meeting to be
held to discuss the organization of an Episcopal church in Quincy. However,
it was not until Easter Day, March 26, 1837, that the Rt. Rev. Philander
Chase, Bishop of the Diocese of Illinois, arrived in Quincy to officiate at
the first services here, having traveled from his log cabin home near Peoria
by boat, wagon, and carriage. Following these services, a meeting, attended
by twenty people, was held for the purpose of forming a parochial
association. The Articles of Association were drawn up and the new church
was named after St. John.
Church members purchased a lot on North Sixth
St., between Hampshire and Vermont and a 24 by 35 foot frame building was
constructed. With 12 Communicants, St. John's was now an established fact.
The Parish Church of St. John's was formally consecrated by Bp. Chase on
June 24, 1838, the Feast of St. John the Baptist. As early as 1843,
discussion began to construct a new church building and a site on the
northeast corner of Seventh and Hampshire was chosen in 1844. In 1852
contracts were let for the new building. This gothic style building was
completed in 1853.
Steady growth saw St. John's reach 130
Communicants by 1856. St. John's served the people of the Quincy area as a
parish until October 11, 1877 when the Diocese of Quincy was created by the
Episcopal Church and St. John's was named the Cathedral. St. John's served
as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Quincy until the see was moved to Peoria
in May of 1962. Between the years of 1962 and 1987, St. John's was the site
for much ministry within the parish, in the Quincy Community, the Diocese of
Quincy, and the Episcopal Church.
Over the years there have been many changes
in the life of this parish. Changes in stone and mortar, the material
foundation of the church; legal changes in management, charters and
statutes; personnel changes; differences in the power of Bishops, Deans,
Rectors, Priests-in-charge, Chapters, Vestries; changes in form of service
and liturgy. But none of these changes can compare to the decision to cede
from the Episcopal Church of United States of America in 1994. Since the
early 1970's the Episcopal Church had been making many changes in its faith,
order, and morals. A majority of the parish, desiring to remain orthodox in
its faith, order, and practice decided that they could no longer remain in
the structure of the Episcopal Church. In 1994, St. John's affiliated with
the Anglican Church in America, an orthodox Anglican jurisdiction of the
Traditional Anglican Communion and became known as St. John's Anglican
Church. In a settlement with the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy, St. John's
Anglican Church agreed to vacate the building originally completed in 1853.
In early 1996 the parish began worshipping at St. Mary's Chapel on what is
now the 14th Street campus of Blessing Hospital. Soon,
construction plans were developed and property purchased for the
construction of a new church facility. Completed in 1998, this new church
facility, located on Payson Road just east of Thirty-Sixth Street, was
formally consecrated by the Most Rev. Louis W. Falk, Primate of the Anglican
Church in America on September 20, 1998.
Through it all, St. John's Anglican Church
has managed to stand firm for the faith of the One, Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic Church.
St. John's Today
This parish stands
unashamedly for the Truth of the Most Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the
Son, and God Holy Ghost. That unchanging Truth as always taught by the
Church, popular or unpopular, whether before a congregation of one or a
hundred, or a thousand. The Catholic Faith in the "Traditional" Anglican
expression makes demands upon its people: behavior and manner of living must
conform to Jesus Christ. We are strict about some things regarding
sexual morality and marriage laws. These things are not popular with some,
especially those who are "shopping" for a church. We are about the Truth of
the Christian message, not about looking for a message that finds one
comfortable, acceptable, conforming to one's private judgment rather than
the revealed judgment of God as expressed for two thousand years. While this
indeed may seem strict, we must offer you a firm foundation in order that
you may have that peace which the world cannot give; the peace of God that
passes man's understanding.
The Catholic Faith in
the "Traditional" Anglican expression is one of forgiveness, of prayerfully
allowing souls to respond to God's call in many varied ways, but all along
the same path, guided by the theology expressed in Holy Scripture, the
"traditional" Book of Common Prayer, and our Hymnal as well as the apostolic
succession of our bishops and those priests validly ordained by them, in
communion with them, serving Christ's Holy Catholic Church and preaching the
Gospel of the saving truth of Jesus Christ.
We are committed to work
for the salvation of our souls, the souls of those whom we love, and those
in our community and the world at large. This is a struggle. St. John' is
one small part of that struggle, and the struggle is worldwide. Many have
said in effect that we find God's law inconvenient, not to our liking, so we
will do as we please. This denial of Christian morality, and the
substitution of worldly values for the values of our Lord have caused many
to join with us to live a Faith full of the love of the Gospel, rather than
love of the world.
We have said "NO" to the
way of the world. We refuse to serve the Devil. Our goal is to be with the
Lord. To follow Him and no other. That is why this parish is so important.
The salvation of souls, mine, yours, and your neighbors. That is why we must
continue. That is why we must pray. That is why, in the end, we will
succeed, not because of our efforts, but because of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is with us. And he will care for those whom he loves.
Rectors of St.
John's
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