In 1894, the first organizational meetings for Saint John’s Episcopal Church were held in Laurel, Mississippi. The meetings were officiated by The Rev. De B. Waddell, who came from Meridian, MS to carry out the Episcopal mission.
For the preceding five years, The Rev. Thomas H. Winecoff and Fr. Waddell served in the beginning phases of the church until Waddell was called to full-time service as the first Rector of Saint John’s Episcopal Church in 1897. From 1897 to 1900, ten adults were baptized and confirmed into the church.
During this time a chapel with a small nave and altar was built on the east side of Fifth Avenue in the 500 block. A picket fence was soon built around it to keep free-roaming animals out.
The Rectorial position was passed briefly to The Rev. Stauffer in 1900, and by 1904, with guidance from The Rev. Arthur Randles Price, the church grew to a congregation of 34 parish members and was officially admitted into the Council of the Diocese of Mississippi as a mission. The Rev. W. T. Allan gained leadership soon after (1904-1906). A period of tremendous growth took place from 1906 to 1914 under the guidance of The Rev. Lysander Rose (1914-1916), who aided the women of the parish in chartering groups such as the Women’s Auxiliary group and the Junior Auxiliary and Guild.
The exponential growth of the burgeoning church called for renovation. The little white chapel, constructed of pine timber, was moved to the back of the property to make way for the new brick sanctuary. Frank Arnold Collry, a New York church architect, designed the simple Norman-style church that was completed in 1914 and dedicated on April 28th.
The Rev. Lundy Sykes accepted his call to Saint John’s in 1916 and remained until May 1923. The Rev. Holly N. Wells followed and served until his retirement in 1946.
A period of rampant growth took place when The Rev. William S. Mann became the rector in 1946. His time was distinguished by increased church membership, Sunday School growth, and the development of three large choirs which prompted the enlargement of the original chapel into a parish house to accommodate for growth. St. John’s Day School was established in 1950 and taught children from kindergarten to sixth grade. Fr. Mann served as headmaster and chairman of the board, and resigned from his rectorial position in 1953. The Rev. William Asger assumed his position in November 1953, and the spiritual and physical growth of the parish continued to increase.
In 1955 plans were drawn to build a new parish house, which was constructed in 1962. Confirmation classes grew, the Sunday School program flourished, and attendance was at an all-time high.
The Rev. John N. McAllister took over the rector position in 1973 after the retirement of Fr. Asger due to ill health. During Fr. McAllister’s tenure as Rector the parish continued to experience growth. The ECW (Episcopal Church Women) was extraordinarily active in the community, and these activities, together with those of other guilds, both served the community and increased St. John’s “footprint” and recognition.
Following the departure of Fr. McAllister, The Rev. Patrick Sanders was called as Rector (1984—1988). Fr. Sanders undertook radical restructuring within the parish. The rectory on N. 5th Avenue was sold, the relationship to the St. John’s Day School was made informal, with the church’s role in school affairs diminished. Within the parish, ministries, guilds and activities all became less active.
The Rev. Stan Runnels (1989—2006) tenure was a time of stability and active ministry in the parish. Fr. Runnels shared a passion for outreach and community. Not only did the parish reengage in the life of the day school but became active, as well, in the public school system and in community outreach.
The culture in Laurel shifted substantially during Fr. Runnels’ tenure. The role of women in the church and community increased substantially. The increased role of women in the parish changed the dynamics of ministry.
The Rev. Jeffry W. Reich came in 2007 and has effected a change in worship and liturgy, adopting more traditional and Anglo-Catholic churchmanship. The parish grew exponentially in the early years of Fr. Reich’s ministry, with St. John’s being identified in the top 10 of parishes for church growth. Sunday School attendance increased to 45—50 children weekly, with average EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) attendance being forty. Two pilgrimages were undertaken with the EYC to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. However, the advent of the Covid pandemic resulted in a drastic (mandated) curtailment of public worship, with overall attendance decreasing by 50%, accompanied by material reduction in Sunday School and EYC attendance. The current challenge of rebuilding in a changed world is being addressed through an increased emphasis on evangelism.
