[ For more photos of this event, please click here here ]

On Sunday October 28th St. John’s celebrated the 125th Anniversary of our wonderful building, and the afternoon could not have been more festive! Our beautiful sanctuary was filled with the presence of our extended community past, present and future, including several family members of former St. John’s rectors - Bernice Hunt and Warren and Marjorie Dunn, also former New York Congressman Amo Houghton and his wife, Priscilla Dewey Houghton, joined the celebration, as well as many other friends and neighbors of our St. John’s community. Bishop Tom Shaw was also in attendance and offered some inspiring remarks as well as a blessing for our space and community.

Our beloved Rector, Anne Fowler, also offered a brief reflection and was presented with an artists rendering of St. John’s as a thank you for her tremendous efforts in raising funds for the capital campaign; an effort without which we would not today be celebrating our brand new lower level! And, in honor of the very generous donation that Anne’s mother has made to our capital campaign, two new granite benches have been installed in our outdoor garden/meditation space; a great reminder that all such massive efforts must be accompanied by periodic moments of rest and reflection.

Another highlight of the afternoon was the series of historical posters telling some of the most interesting stories of our community history. They were placed around the sanctuary, and created quite an interesting opportunity to engage with the people and parts of our community past, whom we will join as benefactors of St. John’s when we leave this space and this legacy of community to the next generations. A huge thank you to Paul Cronin who had these posters made. And, Paul Cronin and his crew did a superb job of organizing and orchestrating the fiesta festivities which turned out to be a smashing success. Great food! Inspiring music! And a jolly good time!

Thank you to one and all who contributed to this fabulous commemoration of the 125th anniversary of our St. John’s home!