Get to Know: The Episcopal Church of St. John and St. James, Sullivan

Their numbers may be few, but the Episcopal Church of St. John and St. James in Sullivan has a heart for mission and a history of comebacks.

"I don't know what the Holy Spirit has in mind here," said the Rev. Sally Weaver, "but they are so willing to go for it!" Sally began serving the parish in November of 2022 and says she is so impressed with the members of this small congregation.

Although she acknowledges "it's not about the building," Sally is getting new signage for the church and is talking to contractors about making the building more accessible and brightening the interior with a fresh paint job. She's also launched a website for the parish, which has already brought in new worshipers. The members are obviously excited about the possibilities for their community.

Cam Boudria is the senior warden at St. John and St. James. She came to the Episcopal Church after being turned away from other denominations because of a divorce. She wants to share the acceptance she found at St. John and St. James with others in the Sullivan community.

"It's the only place that I'm comfortable," Cam said. "It's so accepting of anyone or anything. It's so outside the box for other churches. I finally felt like I was accepted for who and what I was."

Sally is hoping to lead Cam and the handful of other members of St. John and St. James back into their community to learn what ministries are needed and how they might be able to serve those needs. She hopes their community efforts will help the parish redevelop.

Today's struggles are not the first for this rural church. 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. 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.

There were years when St. John's was completely inactive. At one point, they called their building "a hopeless wreck." And then there were other years when full choirs offered outdoor concerts and nearly 40 youth and adults were attending Sunday school every week.

St. John's merged with St. James Episcopal Church in St. Clair in 2001, with the combined congregation worshiping in Sullivan. A new church building designed by award-winning architect Kurt Landberg, was opened in 1965. A bellfry, also designed by the architect, was added in 1978 and taken down this year (2022) due to safety concerns.

And although the membership of St. John and St. James has been declining for several years, we can look back at its history with hope. As they wrote for their 50th anniversary in 1954, "The little church has weathered it all and is here today to tell her own story."

We look forward to hearing more of her story in the future!

Vital Stats:

Church name: The Episcopal Church of St. John and St. James

Address: 463 N. Church Street

City: Sullivan

Phone: 573-468-3753

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.sjsjsullivan.org/contact.html

Worship Services: Sundays at 10 a.m.

Clergy: The Rev. Sally Weaver, long-term supply priest

Members: 10
ASA: 7

(numbers from 2021 Parochial Report)