St John's Episcopal Church

Probably the most historic church in New Jersey, and the largest Episcopal Church in the state, St. John's was founded in 1706 by English missionaries from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in London during the reign of Queen Anne, St. John's was granted a Royal Charter by King George III in 1769. It was occupied by the cavalry of British General Cornwallis from 1775 until 1782 when it was liberated by Colonial General George Washington and declared a US Army Historic Site, predating the National Historic Register. The youngest signer of the US Constitution, Jonathan Dayton, is buried underneath the church in an unmarked grave. The parents of the First American Roman Catholic Saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, were married here in 1762. The church has always been ecumenical and multicultural, with Roman Catholic and Anglican/Episcopal worshipers from its founding; it hosts both an English speaking congregation and a Spanish congregation. The Rev. Joe Parrish has been the Rector since 1989. It is a center for social justice, providing a Sunday day shelter for the homeless during the winter months, clothing for the needy, and feeding over 100 each Sunday a free lunch and dinner. St. John's is the most active church in environmental justice issues in the US. The Sunday church services are at 10 AM in English, 11:30 AM in Spanish followed by a fiesta, and there is a bilingual Vespers at 2:30 followed by a community dinner.