St. John’s Episcopal Church in St. Louis: a shining example of “resilience and the capacity to rebuild”

[November 8, 2012] St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tower Grove, St. Louis, MO calls itself Historically Progressive. The rector adds to that, calling it “resilient.”

St. John’s, located in the Diocese of Missouri, is the focus of a new video in the groundbreaking series, Transforming Churches, Changing the World. Produced by the Episcopal Church Office of Communication, the video is available here or

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/multimedia

In 2004, when the Rev. Teresa Danieley arrived at St. John’s, there were 20 members “in survival mode.” Less than a decade later, the church is a foundational member of the area, boasting a diverse congregation, home to a thriving Farmers Market which serves the surrounding neighborhood, and host to many community programs, including the Peace Meal Program and an immigrant and refugee women’s program.

Built in 1841, Danieley points to the altar which survived an 1896 tornado. This, she believes is a “symbol of resilience and capacity to rebuild.”

"We see time and time again with this series that congregations being faithful to their local contexts are attracting and retaining newcomers,” noted explained Mike Collins, Episcopal Church Manager, Multimedia Services. “St. John's is no different. It's a community full of families, younger people and those who are looking for a spiritual home."

Transforming Churches, Changing the World

The purpose of the Transforming Churches, Changing the World video project is to present identifying characteristics of healthy churches with a focus on ministry and outreach.

Previous videos include Thad’s in Santa Monica CA (Diocese of Los Angeles), Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA (Diocese of Pennsylvania), Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix AZ (Diocese of Arizona), St Paul & the Redeemer, Chicago, IL (Diocese of Chicago), St. Jude Wantagh, NY (Diocese of Long Island), and St. Martin's in the Desert, Pahrump, NV (Diocese of Nevada): here or http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/multimedia