A BRIEF STORY OF THE HISTORY OF THE
OLDEST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN MICHIGAN
by Reverend Katherine Beck-Ei
The history of St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at 122 East Church Street, in the Village Clinton, has been significant in the life of the worshiping community since 1835. It is also inextricably linked to the Reverend William N. Lyster, who was known as the missionary to Michigan. He was considered to be one of our state’s most prominent clergymen.
William N. Lyster was born, in March 1805 into a wealthy family, in Northern Ireland. At the age of 17, he entered university in Dublin. At that time, he had no inclination he would spend his entire life traveling around this part of the wilds of America. Lyster then went on to do his graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh. It was during that time he went on holiday in London, to take a much needed break. While in London, Lyster met The Rev. Philander Chase, who was the Bishop of the Wilderness of Ohio. In in his discussions with Bishop Chase, Lyster learned about the need for missionary work in America. At the age of 24, he was ordained as a Deacon in the Church of England, and left that summer to sail to America. He spent approximately one year on the East Coast, not yet making it to the Midwest. However, in October 1830, he returned to Ireland where he was ordained to the Priesthood, again in the Church of England. A few years later, the call of the Midwest came back and he returned here as a missionary.
The Rev. Jack E. Warner compiled a book on Rev. Lyster’s life and activities, with one page titled A Church for Clinton. Lyster spent 37-years of his life founding small Episcopal churches in the Irish Hills. Because the topography reminded him of his homeland of Ireland, Lyster called the area the Irish Hills. Among the Episcopal churches he founded were St. Michael’s & All Angels-Cambridge Junction; All Saints-Brooklyn; St. Peter’s-Hillsdale; Christ Church-Adrian; St. Peter’s-Tecumseh; and St. Patrick’s-Clinton (now known as St. John’s). He also served at Christ Church-Detroit and, upon finally retiring from that parish, he returned to his beloved Irish Hills area.
Warner's book reveals that, with respect to the Village of Clinton, Lyster's own report indicated he "...had long labored in the village...(preaching in a little schoolhouse common to all denominations)." However, frustrated with his situation, Rev. Lyster made the decision to "...erect in the neighborhood a little tabernacle of my own, where gospel truth and gospel order might find a sure asylum." He found his spot and purchased the lot on which St. John's (formerly named St. Patrick's) now stands.
In Rev. Lyster’s own 1837 report, titled The Spirit of Missions, he shared his experiences in building the Clinton church. In part, he wrote
"A parish was organized and a small chapel was built there
in 1835, erected entirely with my own money. The first
year’s pews were devoted entirely to mission purposes,
and any salary received was used for missionary and
benevolent objects of the church."
It was a common practice in the early to mid-twentieth century, in the United States for people in the Anglican, Catholic, and Presbyterian churches to rent a pew for a family or an individual. That pew became their own, and was one source of church income which, happily, is in the rearview mirror.
The historical marker on the front lawn of St. John’s reads
In 1835, under the leadership of the Reverend William N. Lyster,
this church was founded as St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church.
The Reverend Lyster had organized a church in nearby Tecumseh
in 1833, and this church was a mission of that pioneer parish
until 1836. In 1853, the parish voted to change its name to
St. John’s Episcopal Church. Completed in 1835, this is the
oldest remaining church building in Michigan. Its handhewn
beams, wainscoting and stained glass windows all date
back to 1835.
Our church doors opened for the first worship service on December 13, 1835. We have continued our designation as a mission church, and our doors have remained open continuously since then. In fulfilling Rev. Lyster’s mission for St. John’s, it is a welcoming place where the Gospel continues to be preached and lived. As in the past, all continue to be welcome here and to come as you are.
OLDEST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN MICHIGAN
by Reverend Katherine Beck-Ei
The history of St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at 122 East Church Street, in the Village Clinton, has been significant in the life of the worshiping community since 1835. It is also inextricably linked to the Reverend William N. Lyster, who was known as the missionary to Michigan. He was considered to be one of our state’s most prominent clergymen.
William N. Lyster was born, in March 1805 into a wealthy family, in Northern Ireland. At the age of 17, he entered university in Dublin. At that time, he had no inclination he would spend his entire life traveling around this part of the wilds of America. Lyster then went on to do his graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh. It was during that time he went on holiday in London, to take a much needed break. While in London, Lyster met The Rev. Philander Chase, who was the Bishop of the Wilderness of Ohio. In in his discussions with Bishop Chase, Lyster learned about the need for missionary work in America. At the age of 24, he was ordained as a Deacon in the Church of England, and left that summer to sail to America. He spent approximately one year on the East Coast, not yet making it to the Midwest. However, in October 1830, he returned to Ireland where he was ordained to the Priesthood, again in the Church of England. A few years later, the call of the Midwest came back and he returned here as a missionary.
The Rev. Jack E. Warner compiled a book on Rev. Lyster’s life and activities, with one page titled A Church for Clinton. Lyster spent 37-years of his life founding small Episcopal churches in the Irish Hills. Because the topography reminded him of his homeland of Ireland, Lyster called the area the Irish Hills. Among the Episcopal churches he founded were St. Michael’s & All Angels-Cambridge Junction; All Saints-Brooklyn; St. Peter’s-Hillsdale; Christ Church-Adrian; St. Peter’s-Tecumseh; and St. Patrick’s-Clinton (now known as St. John’s). He also served at Christ Church-Detroit and, upon finally retiring from that parish, he returned to his beloved Irish Hills area.
Warner's book reveals that, with respect to the Village of Clinton, Lyster's own report indicated he "...had long labored in the village...(preaching in a little schoolhouse common to all denominations)." However, frustrated with his situation, Rev. Lyster made the decision to "...erect in the neighborhood a little tabernacle of my own, where gospel truth and gospel order might find a sure asylum." He found his spot and purchased the lot on which St. John's (formerly named St. Patrick's) now stands.
In Rev. Lyster’s own 1837 report, titled The Spirit of Missions, he shared his experiences in building the Clinton church. In part, he wrote
"A parish was organized and a small chapel was built there
in 1835, erected entirely with my own money. The first
year’s pews were devoted entirely to mission purposes,
and any salary received was used for missionary and
benevolent objects of the church."
It was a common practice in the early to mid-twentieth century, in the United States for people in the Anglican, Catholic, and Presbyterian churches to rent a pew for a family or an individual. That pew became their own, and was one source of church income which, happily, is in the rearview mirror.
The historical marker on the front lawn of St. John’s reads
In 1835, under the leadership of the Reverend William N. Lyster,
this church was founded as St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church.
The Reverend Lyster had organized a church in nearby Tecumseh
in 1833, and this church was a mission of that pioneer parish
until 1836. In 1853, the parish voted to change its name to
St. John’s Episcopal Church. Completed in 1835, this is the
oldest remaining church building in Michigan. Its handhewn
beams, wainscoting and stained glass windows all date
back to 1835.
Our church doors opened for the first worship service on December 13, 1835. We have continued our designation as a mission church, and our doors have remained open continuously since then. In fulfilling Rev. Lyster’s mission for St. John’s, it is a welcoming place where the Gospel continues to be preached and lived. As in the past, all continue to be welcome here and to come as you are.
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December 13, 2015 marked the 180th birthday of St. John's Episcopal Church. To help celebrate the occasion, church founder William Lyster (portrayed by member Mark Hastings) visited with the congregation and shared a brief history of the church.
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