St. John's History

Mr. and Mrs. James Busby, and Mrs. Amanda Richman came to Saginaw on the first steamboat to come to the area. These three Episcopal communicants living in what was then Fort Saginaw held prayer meetings in their homes. Occasionally, ministers would visit the small community and hold services. These founding members begin to dream of a time when their beloved Church might be established in Saginaw City. Pictured left are several of the early founding members of St. John’s.

In 1841, occasional services were held by the Rev. Daniel E. Brown of Flint. After he had ministered to the
little company of devoted church people for several years, the Rev. Mr. Rieghley, also of Flint, held frequent services in Saginaw. It is, therefore, to St. Paul’s Parish of Flint that St. John’s, the mother parish of the Episcopal churches in the Saginaw Valley owes a debt of gratitude for inspiration and encouragement to establish a congregation which was to take a prominent part in the religious and social development of the community.​

St. John’s Church was officially organized, and the first clergyman, the Rev. Joseph Adderly was hired, remaining at St. John’s for one year, followed by the Rev. Daniel B. Lyon of Grand Rapids for a period of one more year.

The Rev. Voltaire Spalding came to St. John’s Church from Detroit. As a point of interest, he had previously served as the first City Clerk of the City of Detroit. Services were held in the old school house on Court St., and in the old Court House. There were 7 communicants at this time and the congregation was presented with a Bible and a copy of the Book of Common Prayer by George W. Bullock. On February 20, 1853, the first confirmation service was held at St. John’s, administered by the Rt. Rev. Samuel A. McCoskry, Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan at that time, with three confirmands. On March 28, 1853, Rev. Spalding appointed F. Millard and George W. Bullock to a building committee to provide plans for a church building, and the cornerstone of the first church edifice was laid on April 11, 1853 by Bishop McCoskry.

On February 2, St. Paul’s Church of what was then the City of East Saginaw was organized. On March 4, Trinity Church was organized in what was then Lower Saginaw (Now Bay City). Both parishes were established by St. John’s. The article shown in the photo to the left is dated March 10, 1917 from the Saginaw Daily News.

Owing to a lack of funds, construction on the new church building which had started 3 years prior was not progressing satisfactorily, so in 1856, Rev. Spalding and later Mr. Charles L. Richman were able to supplement the construction efforts by collectively raising $1,100. On October 11, 1857, the first services were held in the new church building. It sat where the old Rectory was located on the Southwest side of the present building adjoining the chapel. From 1857 to 1881, St. John’s was served by 5 Rectors and 1 Assistant (Rectors Edward Magee, Osgood E. Fuller, John Leech, W. Henry Watts, and L. S. Stevens; and Assistant George D. Wright). The parish grew from 24 to 203 communicants. In 1873 the original church building was enlarged at an expense of $2,200.

July 16, 1866, the bell was hung in the first church. The baptismal font, pictured left, was presented to the church by Mrs. Amanda Richman, in memory of her daughter, Kate Richman, and sits in the entrance to the sanctuary today. Later, when the current church building was constructed, the bell was moved from the old building, and is still in use today.

A new Rectory, fronting Hancock St. was built at a cost of $3,500 which was mostly raised by the women of the parish.

By the early 1880s, St. John’s Parish has started to outgrow the existing church, and in the Spring of 1882, the vestry began planning for a new building. In 1883, the congregation hired famed architect Gordon W. Lloyd of Detroit to design the new building, and by May of that year, the congregation had raised enough funds to begin construction. Ground was broken on May 7 and the ground staked out. Pictured left is the original architectural rendering of the new St. John’s grounds by Gordon W. Lloyd. You will notice there are many features of the renderings that never came to fruition, including a building between the Church and the Parish House where the current Parish Hall would eventually be located, featuring a large tower.

At the ceremony, an 8x6x6 inch copper box was placed inside, containing a church hymnal, a Book of Common Prayer, a history of the parish church, the obituaries of Mrs. Richman, Kimberly, Barnard, Durand, and Mr. Newell Barnard, old coins, names of officers and teachers in the Sunday School, and several other papers. There is a tunnel under the church that goes under Court St. to the Courthouse. Windows from the original church building were moved to the current building, and many new windows were donated by notable Saginaw residents. These included Frederick Eaton, attorney and justice of the peace; Dr. Arthur Randolph Ernst, physician and Chief of Staff at St. Mary’s Hospital; Augustine Smith Gaylord, lawyer and County Clerk, for whom the community of Gaylord was named; William T. Kessel, president of Wiechmann Company; Charles Starkwether Kimberly, mercantile for whom the community of St. Charles was named; Louise Miller Rust, wife of Charles Rust, lumberman and community leader. The building committee consisted of several prominent citizens of the City of Saginaw and included Newell Barnard, George F. Williams, Ezra Rust, Dudley J. Smith, and former Michigan Governor, David H. Jerome. The leadership of the church at that time:

• The Rev. Benjamin Franklin Matrau, Rector
• Ex. Gov. David H. Jerome, Senior Warden
• Lorenzo T. Durand, Junior Warden
• Ezra Rust, Secretary
• Geo. F. Williams, Treasurer
• Vestry: James Jerome, Geo. F. Williams, Ezra Rust, Hon. N. Barnard, E. G. Rust, W. T. Knowlton, Dudley J. Smith, George Hogan.

The new sanctuary was consecrated. The following excerpt is taken from “A Brief History of St. John’s Church, Saginaw, Michigan” compiled by Rev. Emil Montanus: “The day for the consecration of the new St. John’s Church opened pleasantly. The services were very impressive in their solemnity, and were attended by a large concourse of people. Quite a number were present from Bay City, East Saginaw, and Detroit… Some time before the hour for the service arrived, the church was well filled by a crowd of people anxious to witness the ceremonies that would consecrate this beautiful temple to the service of God. At a few minutes past ten o’clock the clergy present, with the Bishop, preceded by the vestry, entered the church and proceeded toward the chancel, the Bishop reading portions of the 24th Psalm, the clergy and vestry making the responses… The consecration sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Worthington, who took as his text part of the xviii verse of the 60th chapter of Isaiah, “But thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise.” The sermon was a very eloquent one, and held the attention of the congregation to the close… Immediately after the services a dinner was given at the residence of Mr. Amasa Rust to the Bishop, the visiting Clergy, and members of the church. At the reception which followed, Ex-Gov. And Mrs. Jerome assisted in receiving. The reception was attended by a large number of people, although the change in the weather undoubtedly made quite a difference in the number of guests present. The refreshments, which were delicious, were furnished by Caterer Burton, the table decorations were very beautiful. After a few hours spent in social enjoyment, the guests departed, and thus closed a day always to be remembered as a most eventful one in the history of the Parish of St. John’s.”

The parish house was built largely through the efforts of Amasa Rust and Myron Butman, for whom Saginaw’s Butman-Fish Library is named. It is currently used for church offices and Sunday School classrooms.

A Rectory was built on roughly the same spot where the original church building was located on the Southwest side of the current building. It was a beautiful three-story home with eight fireplaces between the current building and the driveway. Built during the lumber era, it had very beautiful woodwork throughout. There was a connecting hallway between the Calvary Chapel (containing the columbarium) and the rectory. It was used by all pastors until 1967.

The Rev. Matrau, the rector who had served since 1883 throughout the building projects resigns. From 1889 to 1898, the parish is served by 3 more rectors, Dean Richmond Babbitt, Benjamin T. Trego, and Ralph H. Baldwin, and the city and the congregation started to experience the waning of the lumber industry, and a good number of people left the city and the parish. The photo shown left has an inscription that reads “Choirs of St. Paul’s, All Saints, and St. John’s Churches. Centennial Day April 30th 1889 at St. John’s Church, Saginaw Mich.” Centennial Day was the national celebration of the inauguration of George Washington. The photo was taken by the Goodridge Brothers.

In April, the Rev. Emil Montanus came to St. Johns at a time when the parish was disorganized and it’s members discouraged and disheartened. He was officially installed as rector on June 4. Rev. Montanus would go on to become St. John’s longest serving rector, serving for 48 years before retiring in 1947. During this time, the congregation grew to over 680 communicants.

From a Saginaw News Article dated May 24, 1908: “The finest Tiffany window in the city was placed last week on the south side of the nave of St. Jon’s church by Charles A. Rust. It represents a full figure of St. Agnes and in the panel below the figure are the words:

In Memoriam

1852 Louise Miller Rust 1905

The Tiffany 1910 Census calls this the “Hines Memorial Window”, so likely Elizabeth Granger Rust Heinz, a daughter of the Rusts, was at least one of the donors and was the person who organized the window with the Tiffany company.

November 8, 1909, the ladies of St. John’s hold a “unique fair” called the Mother Goose Fair. Booths and characters included The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe, King in the Counting House, Mother Goose, Mother Hubbard and Her Dog, Old Woman Who Had Trouble with Her Pig, Little Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue, and Jack & Jill. The ladies of the congregation also released a cook book in connection with this event.

An article in the Saginaw News dated March 23, 1929 details the annual tradition of the choir presentation of Stainer’s famous cantata, “The Crucifixion”, under the direction of then choir director, Mrs. Emil Montanus. The article states that this tradition had started 16 years earlier in 1913. According to current Music Director, Kevin Simons, this annual tradition carried through the 1930’s, and is still occasionally presented in it’s entirety to this day.

An article in the Saginaw News dated February 12, 1919 tells that St. John’s will host a Father and Son Banquet, another example of the active parish life of the congregation in the early 1900’s. 

An article in the Saginaw News dated September 18, 1923 notes that Edgar C. Thompson is the new organist and music director of St. John’s, having come from the public schools in Alpena where he served for 10 years. The article mentions that under his leadership, the Aplena High School girl’s Glee Club won a state high school musical competition at a 1921 competition in Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Thompson organizes a Boy’s Choir at St. John’s in 1923, pictured left. (Photo not from 1923).

St. John’s Parish was very active in the 1920’s, and examples of Parish Live included the annual Bazaar hosted by the Church Service League. In 1923, the Bazaar was to be held on December 5 & 6. Other organizations in the church at that time included the Young Married People’s Club. The article shown on the left is dated November 4, 1923.

In 1947, Rev. Emil Montanus retires. During his nearly 50 years at St. John’s, Rev. Montanus became deeply ingrained in the community of Saginaw. The Saginaw County Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1977, describes him as “one of those rare souls who go through life without making a known enemy.” He was known for his involvement with the Central Rescue Mission, the Saginaw County Humane Society, and the Associated Charities (forerunner of the Family Society). He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Fordney Club. He often gave so much of his own income away to the poor and needy, that he often didn’t have enough to meet his own needs, sometimes giving his entire paycheck away. He gave generously of his time and energy in visiting the sick and poor, in investigating cases of poverty, and offering sympathy and substantial aid to the needy.

In 1947, in grateful recognition of his 48 years of service to the Parish, the congregation designated Rev. Montanus as Rector Emeritus of St. John’s. 

The Rev. Rexford C.S. Holmes is called to serve as Rector of St. John’s. He will serve for nearly 20 years from 1948 to 1967. 

In March, St. John’s holds a pageant to celebrate 100 years of ministry in Saginaw. Excerpt from the Saginaw News dated Sunday, April 1, 1951: “St. John’s Episcopal Church is now in it’s second century. The month of March marked the hundredth anniversary at the parish, which was the mother church for Episcopalians of the Saginaw Valley. The parish recounted it’s history in a colorful pageant that waws the highlight of the month long observances. Scenes from the presentation appear on this page. Simply but dramatically related were the hundred years of growth that marked that of the little lumbering town it served…”

A community room was added to connect the Sanctuary and the Parish Hall. Currently known as Gissendanner Hall, this building provides meeting space for coffee hour, receptions, and special events.

The Rev. Charles Stewart is called as Rector of St. John’s in 1967, serving for 26 years until his retirement in 1993.

On April 7, 1973, St. John’s Assistant, Fran Schwannecke becomes the first woman ordained to the Deaconate in the Diocese of Michigan. She was ordained to the Priesthood on June 18, 1978. She was St. John’s longest serving assistant from 1978 to her retirement in 1997.

St. John’s Rectory is demolished. The Rectory has not been used as a residence since The Rev. and Mrs. Rexford C.S. Holmes moved out in August, 1967. The Saginaw News wrote on March 25, 1978 that “The Saginaw County Historic District Commission is concerned that the rectory may be demolished. ‘It is probably one of the finest structures in town,’ said Perry D. Riddick, commission chairman. Unfortunately, the cost of maintenance and heating for the massive, 3-story historic building was too much for the congregation to maintain, and the decision was made by the Vestry to demolish it later that year.

On May 1, 1983, St. John’s holds a service of rededication in honor of the Church building’s centennial. An April 30, 1983 article explains that the original time capsule in the 1883 cornerstone had been recently opened prior to the event, containing “a church hymnal, Book of Common Prayer, history of the parish, obituaries, old coins and newspapers, and other objects.” The service of rededication was attended by then Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan, William Gordon. The Saginaw Choral Society furnished the music for the service in appreciation of St. John’s allowing the society to use the community room for rehearsal space over the past 13 years. The Saginaw Choral Society still rehearses at St. John’s today.

A reception followed the service in the Community Room, “giving time for church members, area history buffs and others to discuss the history of the church and trace old Saginaw families involved in the 132 year-old congregation.”

The Rev. Rich Winters answers a call to serve at St. John’s. He serves as Rector from 1995 to 2003.

The Rev. Darren Elin is called as Rector of St. John’s, serving from 2004 to 2010.

In 2010, a major construction project is completed at St. John’s. The congregation had long struggled with how best to address the issue of accessibility for the 130 year old building. Several decades earlier, a lift was installed next to the main entrance on Hancock St., making the sanctuary handicap accessible. However, in order to access the Parish Hall after Church, those needing the lift would have to exit on Hancock St., and then travel around the outside of the church to the main entrance by the Court. St. parking lot. Additionally, most people no longer entered the church through the main doors at the rear facing Michigan Ave. and Hancock St., and would enter through the chapel. The construction project provided direct access into the sanctuary from the Parish Hall, and installed a lift directly between the Parish Hall and the sanctuary. In order to accomplish this, the Chancel would need to become the back entrance of the church, and the former Baptistry would become the new Chancel. The pews are turned 180 degrees to face the former Baptistry, and a raised platform is installed to create the new Chancel. Stairs are also installed leading up into the sanctuary from the Parish Hall. 

Rev. Pam Renna comes to St. John’s following the closure of Calvary Episcopal Church in Saginaw.

The Rev. Dr. Pamela Renna, though a longtime resident of Saginaw, is orginally from southern Oregon.

Pam assists with worship services on Sundays and Wednesdays, and provides oversight for our team of Lay Eucharistic Visitors (people who take Holy Communion to those in the hospital or at home). She also works to strenghten the Invite/Welcome/Connect ministry at St. John’s.

Pam is a retired Delta College French professor and travels frequently to France.

The Rev. Daniel Cannon & family come to St. John’s. Rev. Daniel serves as Rector from 2011 to 2016.

Rev. Curt Norman is called to serve as Rector of St. John’s. Rev. Curt will serve from 2016 to 2023.

After a vacancy of nearly 3 years, the search committee extends a call to the Rev. Janet Huff-Worvie to serve as Transitional Deacon-in-Charge. The Rev. Janet joined us in July, 2026.

The Rev. Janet Huff-Worvie is a lifelong Episcopalian and native New Yorker. She has lived in Michigan for over 20 years. Prior to being ordained, she retired from Macomb Community College as Director of Human Resources. Janet begins her ministry as Transitional Deacon in Charge and will be ordained a Priest in late November, at which time she will become Priest in Charge.

Janet’s husband, Frank, is retired; they have two adult children, Jonathan (Samantha) and Erica.

St. John’s Parish has planned several events to honor the church’s 175th anniversary. On Tuesday October 13, 2026, Kevin Simons (Director of Music) and Jane Girdham (choir member and music historian) will give an introduction to the music that will be used for our 175th anniversary service (Sunday, October 18). Come and learn about how the music chosen for the service reflects the music of the Episcopal Church in both the mid-19th century and the present day.

On Sunday, October 18 at 10am St. John’s will have a special service in honor of the 175th anniversary, Guest speaker, Tom Trombley of the Castle Museum and the Historical Society of Saginaw County, will be giving a Homily on St. John’s role in Saginaw’s history.

On Wendesday, November 4 at 12pm, Tom Trombley of the Castle Museum and the Historical Society of Saginaw County will host a tour of St. John’s historic stained glass windows.

On Saturday, November 21 at 1:30pm, we will celebrate the Ordination of the Rev. Deacon Janet Huff-Worvie, to the priesthood of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes.