About Us

Who We Are

Our mission statement at St. John’s is: “To live in the Spirit of Christ.” What this means for us right now is that we are trying to follow God’s call for us. We are trying to live into that call every day.

St. John’s Church is the oldest English-speaking parish in America, founded in 1610. That means that we have been meeting as a worshipping congregation for over 400 years. We are looking toward the future as we change with every new person. We would love for you to be part of this vibrant community of people who continue to aspire, perspire and inspire.

Meet the Staff

Founded in 1610

Our Core Values

  • 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.
New Here?

Our History

From our beginnings with English settlers in 1610 to our current journey over 400 years later, St. John’s has an exciting story. Find out more and come join the adventure. Read More

The Episcopal Church

“We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As constituent members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, we are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church, and are part of the third largest group of Christians in the world.” Read More

If You’re New Here

We know you may have questions if you’re new to St. John’s or new to the Episcopal tradition. We’ve created a space to help answer some of your questions. Read More

Lisa Erdeljon

Lisa Erdeljon

Priest-in-Charge

Read Bio

Bio coming soon.

Deborah Carr

Deborah Carr

Director, Organist, Choir Master

Read Bio
Deborah L. Carr has been the Music Director/Organist at St John’s Episcopal Church since 2011. She holds degrees in organ performance, church music and choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Westminster Choir College. In addition to her work with worship and musical programs at St John’s, she is a member of the adjunct faculty at Virginia Wesleyan University ,Virginia Beach, teaching organ and church music, and is the founding director of the women’s vocal ensemble Bellissima! Deborah is also an accomplished composer of music for voice as well as instruments.
Patrick Crandol

Patrick Crandol

Parish Administrator

Read Bio
Bio coming soon.
Michael Todd

Michael Todd

Sexton

Read Bio
Bio coming soon.