St. John's Episcopal Church
We are a welcoming and growing church. We are particularly attractive to young families who love our children's service. This service is unique in the area and is a music filled religious experience designed for the children. We have also just started a children's choir which sang at the Easter and Confirmation services to rave reviews.
We have an active and large Sunday School with classes for pre-K and K, Grade 1 and 2, Grades 3 & 4, and Grades 5 & 6. We share the teaching among the adults and they all bring their own special talents to the children. The program continues to be a smashing success.
We are a caring congregation made up of individuals and families from Pleasantville, Thornwood, Hawthorne, Valhalla, White Plains and other neighboring villages. We hold 3 services each Sunday; Rite 1 at 8AM for early risers, at 9:30 a children's oriented service aimed at families with young children, and our Rite 2 service with choir at 11AM . Coffee hour is available following the 9:30 and 11:00 services.
Our priest is Father John Edward
We invite you to come worship with us.
We have a very talented and active congregation. We have formed into teams which helps the church run well. Our teams include: worship and music, outreach, buildings and grounds, Christian education, Stewardship, Communications, Finance, Hospitality and Membership, Pastoral Care, and Youth. And of course we have the governing board, known as the Vestry, made up of members of the congregation. Being a member of a team helps you be aware of the workings of the church and builds community and friendships.
We also have several large fund raising project throughout the year including the Christmas Tree Sale which we work with the Methodist Church, the Christmas Fair and the Tag Sale in June.
Our newest project is "Carpenter's Kids". We are sponsoring 50 children from the town of Swaswa in Tanganyika so that they can attend school. We have just received the first pictures from the children and will soon start a two-way communication with them.
We are fortunate that we have a wonderful, friendly and cohesive church, and we welcome you to see for yourself.
HISTORY
St. John's Church has been a part of the Pleasantville community since 1853 when it was established as a mission church with the Rev. Robert W. Harris, rector of Grace Church in White Plains, serving as Priest-in-Charge. Services were held in a schoolhouse in the Old Village until 1885.
In that same year, the congregation occupied a new sanctuary on Bedford Road which served as its home until the present building was occupied in 1912, during the rectorate of the Rev. Dr. Stephen Holmes. (The old structure now serves as the Pleasantville Community Synagogue.) To meet the demands of a growing church community, the parish hall, built of native stone with a roof of Vermont slate, was completed in 1929, in the rectorate of the Rev. Emmons Parkman Burrill, at a cost of $52,000. In 1972, the classroom/office wing completed the complex of buildings.
The Rectory of St. John's dates back to 1785 and is the oldest house in Pleasantville. It was purchased in 1920 from Miss Caroline Choate who had acquired and lovingly restored the property the year before. The historic integrity of the Rectory as a Revolutionary War era building has been respected whenever possible while still allowing for modern conveniences necessary for a comfortable daily life. A notable characteristic of St. John's is the tenure of service of its Rectors. Since 1881 we have had only six clergy.
If you have continued reading all the way to this point, congratulations and thanks for your interest. We'd love to see you at church.
