St. John's history goes back to 1892, when Bishop Daniel Sylvester Tuttle led the first Episcopal Church service in Sullivan. St. John's officially became a mission in 1904. Mrs. M.E. Crow gave the Episcopal Church the south half of a lot on South Clark Street where the original church was built of cement blocks in 1906. The only pieces of furniture were an eagle lectern, an altar purchased by the women's guild, a credence shelf and a small second-hand reed organ. According to written histories saved in the diocesan archives, missions in Sullivan, Rolla, St. James, and Cuba struggled to survive. For years, clergy and lay leaders spread their time and shared their talents with Episcopalians throughout the area.
The original church at 122 S. Clark St. is now known as White Chapel. This structure served as St. John's place of worship until it was purchased in the mid-1960s by the First Church of Christ Scientist, who met there for the next 50 years. In 2015, with the century-old edifice facing demolition, a local partnership purchased the church and began major renovations and remodeling.
A new church building, designed by award-winning architect Kurt Landberg, was opened at 463 N. Church St. in 1965. A belfry, also designed by the architect, was added in 1978 but was taken down in 2022 due to safety concerns. St. John's merged with St. James Episcopal Church in St. Clair in 2001, with the combined congregation worshiping in Sullivan.
As the 50th Anniversary book for St. John's, written in 1954, says: "The little church has weathered it all and is here today to tell her own story."
Please join us in writing more of her story into the future!
Information for this page has been provided from A Century Passes, but Memory Lingers On: The Centennial History of Sullivan, Missouri published by Authority of the Sullivan Centennial Committee in 1956 and by the Director of Communications for the Diocese of Missouri, Janis Greenbaum.
The original church at 122 S. Clark St. is now known as White Chapel. This structure served as St. John's place of worship until it was purchased in the mid-1960s by the First Church of Christ Scientist, who met there for the next 50 years. In 2015, with the century-old edifice facing demolition, a local partnership purchased the church and began major renovations and remodeling.
A new church building, designed by award-winning architect Kurt Landberg, was opened at 463 N. Church St. in 1965. A belfry, also designed by the architect, was added in 1978 but was taken down in 2022 due to safety concerns. St. John's merged with St. James Episcopal Church in St. Clair in 2001, with the combined congregation worshiping in Sullivan.
As the 50th Anniversary book for St. John's, written in 1954, says: "The little church has weathered it all and is here today to tell her own story."
Please join us in writing more of her story into the future!
Information for this page has been provided from A Century Passes, but Memory Lingers On: The Centennial History of Sullivan, Missouri published by Authority of the Sullivan Centennial Committee in 1956 and by the Director of Communications for the Diocese of Missouri, Janis Greenbaum.
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The original building of St. John's Episcopal Church.
122 S. Clark St. Sullivan, MO 63080
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St. John & St. James icon for the church commissioned by Deacon Schelly Reid-Levy (pictured right). Also pictured is Pastor Sally S. Weaver. (pictured left) 2023
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Blessing of the new Food Pantry Box donated by Sullivan resident, Joe Jorgovan. Also pictured is Pastor Sally Weaver 8/18/2024
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Blessing of the new Centering Bell donated by parishioners,
Henry & Mary Taber. 4/14/2024
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Pictures of the Narthex before (pictured Left) and after painting (pictured Right). 2023
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Picture of the church after renovation with painting, new lights and seating. 2023
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Pictures of the church before (pictured left) and after (pictured right) renovation with painting, new lights and seating. 2023
Dauphine (Thumper) Bonham, Jane Fordyce and Cam Boudria are recipients of the 2024 Bishop's Medal award
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Installation of ramp making church fully handicap accessible. 6/2024
Rev. Sally Weaver, recipient of the Bishop's Medal award in 2023. Pictured here with The Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson
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