Our History

In 1902 the women’s society of St. Georges Episcopal Church, Hempstead gave $800 to the African and Native American people worshipping with them to leave St. George’s and create their own church. These men, women and children worshipped seated in the balcony and worked in the homes of the people who worshipped seated on the main floor of the sanctuary. By 1904 they purchased, moved and refurbished a wheelwright shed to serve as their church. Thus St. John’s was established as a mission of St. George’s.

 

After just ten years, St. John’s members and ministry proved to be more than a group of cast-off people. They grew sufficiently to warrant a new building, a new location and known for their family spirit. The members opened the first community center to address the needs of racial minorities in Hempstead after the purchase a building at 64 Prospect Street (today called Peninsula Boulevard). A senior citizen center was founded and housed at the church when members realized African Americans were not welcome in other centers. One of St. John’s clergy, The Reverend Robert Chapman, founded the first chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Hempstead. This congregation grew out of members’ frustration with white only facilities and businesses in town. The church was destroyed by a fire on December 14, 1956. By 1962 the congregation purchased land and constructed buildings for a sanctuary, parish hall and rectory. St. John’s was admitted as a parish in 1978, ending three decades as a mission.

 

During the 1980’s they proudly sponsored one of the first women ordained in the Diocese of Long Island. The Reverend Anne Lyndall. In 1989 they opened a vacation Bible school for church members that functions today as a full summer day camp serving poor, working and middle class children in the community. In 1996 one member’s passion for jazz inspired the creation of the Jazz Revelation ministry. Quarterly jazz concerts, free to youth, were hosted by the Men’s Club in the church to make this African American art from accessible to a new generation of listeners. In 1997 the congregation created a youth mentoring program to support families in their effort to raise teenagers in these changing and uncertain times. Other vibrant and supportive ministries include The Episcopal Churchwomen, Men’s Club, Outreach Committee, Buildings and Grounds and Altar Guild.

 

In 1998 a youth choir was formed under the direction of Nigel Gretton, a $100,000 renovation project which began at the rectory was completed; a support group for grandparents raising their grandchildren began. St. John’s vision includes but is not limited to providing much needed space for the growth of its outreach ministries. In 2006, we embark on our 2006 Capital Campaign and celebrate the appointment of the Reverend Dr. Lynn A. Collins as “Priest-in-Charge”. We look forward to the future as God directs our path and, we pray that we will br grateful and careful stewards of all God’s gifts as our forbearers of 1902.