St. John's Episcopal Church
WELCOMES ALL
Serving the Community of Gloucester for Over 150 Years
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
Luke 1:37
For 150 Years Saint John’s Episcopal Church has quietly glorified God by serving Gloucester and the surrounding area. As Episcopalians, we trace our identity back to the Roman Catholic Church, from which our spiritual ancestors were separated due to the politics of 16th-century England. Today, while our faith remains rooted in Scripture and the Creeds, we enjoy debating issues that lie beyond those core principles. At Saint John’s we are proud to welcome everyone to the fullness of sacramental worship and parish life.
Read what we believe in the Episcopal Church.
We are proud to glorify God with our beautiful worship and our many ministries to the community. We have a lively choir and outreach ministries to the Grace Center and the Open Door.
We have a Rummage Shop which offers quality, gently used clothing for men, women and children; and a Thrift Shop filled with treasures. We are always happy to partner with other organizations, such as AA and art classes and to host gatherings that support the community.
We welcome the use of our building by groups such as Sorellanza, the League of Women Voters, the Coalition to Prevent Domestic Abuse and others.
Our Middle Street doors to our beautiful nave and sanctuary are open on Monday through Thursday mornings, so that anyone who needs a moment of rest, prayer, or inspiration may find peace “in the beauty of holiness.”
Please join us for worship at 10:00am on Sunday mornings.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday, 9 am until noon.
The sanctuary is open for prayer, meditation or reflection Monday through Thursday, 9 am until noon.
For more information, please see our calendar.
The Thrift Shop and Regal Rummage are open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M..
SAFE CHURCH
St. John’s has always worked for the protection of children, teens and minors, and vulnerable adult. SAFE CHURCH TRAINING is required of all clergy, diocesan employees and congregational employees. For more information, please read St. John’s official policies on these at the links below.
MEET OUR STAFF
The Rev. MARYA DeCARLEN
Priest-in-Collaboration
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With over forty years of ministry experience, Marya has been actively involved in the Diocese of Massachusetts with clergy support groups, as a volunteer chaplain at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, and as a member of the Merrimack and North Shore Deanery. Rev. DeCarlen holds an MDiv from Episcopal Divinity School. She has two college-aged sons, Michael and Jacob, and a four-year-old rescue Labrador named Frankie.
JOHN
CHURCHWELL
Director of Music
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John Churchwell has been a student of organ for over 35 years and directed choirs as small as 8 people and as large as 80 people in both Methodist and Episcopal churches. He has also directed children’s choirs, youth choirs and bell choirs. John grew up in Arkansas and moved to Massachusetts in 2020. Since moving to MA, he has worked for various churches in the area, both as a Music Director and as a Parish Administrator. He enjoys working with kids as well as adults, and finds that his own spirituality is best nurtured when in a faith community and where relationships are a priority.
MARGE
BISHOP
Church Assistant
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A life-long resident of Gloucester, MA, Marge worked as a salesperson at Woolworth’s in Gloucester from 1954-57. She was a Tupperware Manager for 15 years and in 1982 came to St. John’s to do some volunteer work, which, eventually turned into becoming a sexton, then administrator and now church assistant. Her interests include God, Family, St. John’s Church and The Boston Bruins.
ELIZABETH
de VEER
Parish Administrator
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She/Her
Elizabeth lives in Georgetown. Hobbies include: very long walks, reading and drinking coffee. She is also the author of the novel The Ocean in Winter. Assists the rector with administrative matters and maintains church accounts under the direction of the Treasurer.
MICHELE
Del VECCHIO
Thrift Shop Assistant
She/Her
I waltzed into St. John’s Thrift Store for a potato masher and I came out as My Girl Friday. I have mentioned in more than one (seventeen or so) conversations that I am in the right place at exactly the right time and delighted to be here. I have the gift of gab and the ladies have to rein me in sometimes. Last thing! If you want a story I have one.