Information
St. John's is an inclusive worshiping community welcoming all.We are an urban parish drawing from the Greater Boston area. Seeking and finding the presence of Christ in the Word, in the Sacraments, and in one another are at the heart of our active, worshiping community. Strong in lay participation and social action outreach, we welcome seekers in the faith of all ages and races.
Our social action ministry, Neighborhood Action Inc. (NAI), serves meals to the homeless on Monday and Thursday evenings. The Boston needle exchange program is on site for the Thursday evening meal. NAI also offers a Monday morning drop-in center with clothing distribution; a Wednesday recovery group, spirituality group and food pantry; and a Thursday Women's Project drop in center for poor and homeless women.
St. John's hosts many groups that regularly use our facilities, including: Saturday's/Sunday's Bread (serving meals to the homeless on the weekends), Dignity (a Roman Catholic worshiping community of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons and their friends), Alcoholics Anonymous, and various music events.
The church building, made of stone in a gothic style, was erected in 1831 by Congregationalist Christians. From 1863-1883, it was occupied by the Church of the Advent (which afterwards moved to its current location on Brimmer Street). In 1883, the building became the Mission Church of St. John the Evangelist under the auspices of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, a monastic order. After building a new monastery on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, the SSJE brothers continued their mission work at St. John's. In 1985, almost a century after the brothers established the mission church here, St. John's became a Parish Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. We are blessed by the historical and continuing connection to the SSJE through prayer and material support.
