Est. 1610
About St. John’s
A parish rooted in the Episcopal tradition, committed to worship, service, and welcome for over 400 years.
A Living History of Faith & Witness
St. John’s traces its roots to 1610, when English settlers established a community and church on the peninsula just three years after the founding of Jamestown — making it the oldest English-speaking parish in America. For more than four centuries, an unbroken succession of worshippers has gathered in this place to pray, to serve, and to give thanks.
Over its first century the parish worshipped at four sites. The earliest services were held on ground now part of Hampton University, where the Rev. William Mease served as the first minister. The congregation built a second church on top of the first, moved westward to Westwoods Town Quarter, and in 1728 completed the present cruciform brick church, built by Henry Cary, Jr. of Williamsburg.
The 1728 sanctuary endured the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the 1861 burning of Hampton during the Civil War — trials that left it the only surviving colonial structure in downtown Hampton. Restored through gifts first raised in 1825, the Elizabeth City Parish church building was reconsecrated in 1830 and given a name: St. John’s. Today, faithful to our mission to live in the Spirit of Christ, we continue to honor this heritage while serving God’s people in new and meaningful ways.
What We Believe
Episcopalians hold the faith set out in the Book of Common Prayer. Its Catechism, An Outline of the Faith, teaches it in questions and answers. Here are a few of them, in the Prayer Book’s own words.
What does it mean to be created in the image of God?
It means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God.
What is the great importance of Jesus’ suffering and death?
By his obedience, even to suffering and death, Jesus made the offering which we could not make; in him we are freed from the power of sin and reconciled to God.
What is the significance of Jesus’ resurrection?
By his resurrection, Jesus overcame death and opened for us the way of eternal life.
What is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, God at work in the world and in the Church even now.
What is grace?
Grace is God’s favor towards us, unearned and undeserved; by grace God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts, and strengthens our wills.
What is the New Commandment?
The New Commandment is that we love one another as Christ loved us.
What is the mission of the Church?
The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
What is the Christian hope?
The Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God’s purpose for the world.
We hear the Holy Scriptures at every service and call them the Word of God “because God inspired their human authors and because God still speaks to us through the Bible.” Each Sunday we say together the Nicene Creed, “the creed of the universal Church.”
Our Core Values
Our mission is to live in the Spirit of Christ. These are the values that shape our life together.
Worship
We value worship through the beauty, richness and tradition of liturgy that magnifies the Lord and feeds our spirit.
Outreach
We value outreach to the wider community through commitment to generous and caring service, recognizing that we are God’s hands and feet in the world.
Christian Formation
We value opportunities for all to explore and grow as disciples of Christ in a nurturing and accepting spiritual atmosphere.
Heritage
We value our religious and cultural heritage, and we honor St. John’s as a witness to God’s abiding presence through the ages.
Spirituality
We seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith, to forgive our sins, and to help us remember our many blessings as we aspire to live into the fullness of God’s grace.
Community
As a parish community, we nurture Christian fellowship in a spirit of hospitality.
Stewardship
We embrace the opportunity to grow in our commitment to Christ by sharing our gifts of time, talent and treasure.
Evangelism
We seek ways to share our life in Christ that the world may know God’s love.
Our Leadership
St. John’s is served by its clergy and staff through the week, and governed by a Vestry elected from the congregation.
