Parish Chronology

1874 – Diocese of Western Michigan formed. Rt. Rev. George DeNormandie Gillespie, first Bishop (1875-1909).
1876 – Twelve Episcopalians organized mission.
1878 – Dwight May of Kalamazoo donated property for church by land contract on Sept 18.
1882 – Cornerstone laid by Edward A. Audlin Willian Nathaniel brown, Charles D. Smith on Oct 19. Mr. Brown designed, built, furnished the church.
1884 – Church was consecrated on January 10 by Bishop Gillespie in a 3-hour service. Mr. and Mrs. Brown hosted a 10-course dinner at Bennett House hotel.
1884 – First Sunday School organized on January 20.
1884 – Rev. James A. McGlone appointed first resident priest on June 15.
1886 – Bishop Gillespie dedicated old rectory built by Mr. Brown on February 28.
1886 – Women’s Guild established on April 16. They maintained the property for 52 years.
1900 – St. John’s gained parish status on June 24. Rev. John H. Rippey, M.D., first Recto. First vestry elected.
1908 – Church expanded from July – October. Rev. Charles F. Westman, Rector
1908 – Bishop Gillespie rededicated the church on November 12.
1912 – First vested choir appears.
1918 – First year with no rector lasting through 1936.
1939 – Bishop Lewis Bliss Whittemore dedicated Maguire Memorial Parish Hall on October 1.
1939 – Bernard Stone started the St. John’s Boy Choir. It lasted until 1955.
1958 – Canterbury Club established, it lasted through 1962. Rev. Charles Stuart, Rector.
1962 – Rev. John H. Goodrow installed as Rector on March 1.
1965 – New rectory is built.
1973 – Gabriel Knew installed memorial pipe organ. The sacristy is remodeled.
1975 – The new rectory is sold to the Goodrows.
1979 – Summer church is restored.
1982 – The Goodrow Fund is created. Church is listed on National Register of Historic Places on April 22.
1987 – Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller becomes Rector on April 1.
1995 – Church expansion begins and lasts into 1996.
1996 – Bishop Edward L. Lee, Jr. rededicates the church on May 1.
1997 – Rev. Nancy Casey Fulton becomes first appointed Deacon on September 27.
2001 – Rev. Patricia Green becomes Rector. She stays until 2003.
2003 – Organ is expanded.
2006 – Rev Wayne P. Nicholson becomes Rector on December 6 and retires in 2019.
2006 – Organ is expanded.
2007 – Parish Hall is remodeled.
2008 – Center for Christian Spirituality is created.
2009 – 125th Anniversary
2017 – Parish Hall remodel begins including an updated kitchen and installation of the Lantern to connect the Parish Hall to the church.
2020 – Rev. Sr. Diane Stier becomes Rector on November 1.
2020 – The Goodrow Fund is formally dissolved on June 1.