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St. John's parish has been serving the community of Laurel since 1884. In that year, a small congregation of Episcopalians began to meet in homes and borrowed spaces of other churches to hold services and celebrate Holy Communion when a visiting priest could be obtained. Not long after, when the congregation became a mission of the diocese, a small wooden structure was built in the popular crafstman style. It stood on the site of the fountain beside the present church. In 1894, the congregation was admitted as a parish into the Diocese of Mississippi. Less than 20 years later, in 1913, construction began on the present church, built in the Norman Romanesque style. It was completed in 1914, in time for the parish to host the 87th Annual Diocesan Council in April, the only time it has had that honour. The old church was moved to the back of the parish's lot and became the parish's chapel. Between the present church and the chapel was built the parish offices and parish hall. Today, the chapel is the oldest continuously used building of worship in Laurel.
Perhaps the most important ministry of St. John's Parish to the community of Laurel has been that of St. John's Day School. Founded in 1950, St. John's Day School has been providing quality parochial educational opportunities for the elementary students of Laurel for over 50 years. St. John's Day School is open to all students, regardless of race or creed. Though independently operated, the parish of St. John's maintains a close relationship with the day school, providing encouragement for the students in their academic growth, as well as counselling and regular Christian worship for their spiritual growth.
In 1994, St. John's celebrated its centennial year as a parish. A year long celebration was planned, the climax of which was the centennial Eucharist held in April of that year. The clergy and congregation of our sister churches in Laurel were in attendance, as well as our bishop, who preached and celebrated. We at St. John's look forward to another century of continued service and witness to Jesus Christ in Laurel and Jones County.
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| St. John's from the Southwest | The Life Fountain, site of the old church |
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| St. John's Window from the interior | St. John's Day School |
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| The Rectors of St. John's Parish | |
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| 1899 - 1900 | Rev. DeBernier Waddell |
| 1900 - 1903 | Rev. Arthur R. Price |
| 1903 - 1906 | Rev. William B. Allen |
| 1906 - 1916 | Rev. Lysander W. Rose |
| 1916 - 1923 | Rev. J. Lundy Sykes |
| 1924 - 1946 | Rev. Holly Wilberforce Wells |
| 1946 - 1953 | Rev. William S. Mann |
| 1953 - 1973 | Rev. M. William J. H. M. Asger |
| 1974 - 1983 | Rev. John N. McAllister |
| 1984 - 1988 | Rev. Patrick H. Sanders |
| 1989 - Present | Rev. R. Stan Runnels |
| Our Weekly Schedule | ||
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| Sundays | Holy Eucharist Rite I at 8:00 AM
Sunday School at 9:30 AM (except during the summer months) Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10:30 AM EYC at 6:30 (except during the summer months) |
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| Wednesdays | Bible Study w/ the Rector at 10:45 AM Holy Eucharist Rite II with Healing at 12:00 PM |
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If you live in Laurel, and are looking for a parish home, or plan on visiting our city in the near future, you are invited to come worship with us. All baptized persons, regardless of the denomination in which that baptism occurred, are considered members of the Body of Christ at St. John's, and as such, are invited to partake in Holy Communion. As a visitor you will be warmly welcomed. You will find the church at:
We are located next door to the world-renowned Lauren Rogers Museum of Art on historic 5th Avenue in downtown Laurel.
