OUR HISTORY

St. John’s celebrated 135 years of ministry as a community of faith in 2020. Tracing its early history, St. John’s was admitted to the Diocese as a Mission in 1872. In 1885, the Mission church was reorganized as early records reflect Episcopal missionaries working along the Gulf Coast. The land on which St. John’s sits was purchased in 1889 with monies from bake sales, gumbo dinners and raffles. By 1900 the church was built. That year, the Rev. Ireneaus Trout arrived and served as the first resident rector for St. John’s.

In 1904, the Rev. Edwin D. Weed assumed charge. During his time, the Rectory was built and a small mission in Moss Point was established.

In 1906, the Rev. John Chipman began a sixteen year stay as rector. Chipman was described as a “loving and devoted pastor and teacher” and also established St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Moss Point and was instrumental in establishing St. Pierre’s Chapel in Gautier. He would take the ferry to Gautier for the afternoon service and take the evening train back to Pascagoula. During Chipman’s years, the Bishop’s chair, still at St. John’s today, was built and given to the church by the World War I Veteran’s Vocational School.

Following the departure of the Rev. Chipman, St. John’s remained vacant for many months. The Vestry called the Rev. Dr. Charles L. W. Reese, an intellectual man who had taught at Sewanee. Dr. Reese, as he preferred to be called, was kind and shy. He frequently walked the railroad tracks to  Gautier to visit his parishioners and to have Evening Prayer at St. Pierre’s. In 1926, Dr. Reese returned to Sewanee.

The Rev. Jonathan Beean arrived at a time that the Gulf Coast was plagued with whooping cough and scarlet fever, and he spent much of his time visiting with parishioners. In 1929, the Great Depression struck and Rev. Beean called on each suffering family to pray for them and assure them of God’s love and his own.

During the 1930s, an English Vicar, the Rev. Edward G. Maxted served at St. John’s. He was known for his photographic memory, voracious appetite for book knowledge and for wearing a black cassock all around town.

In 1941, the Rev. Frederick S. Resch became rector. Church attendance grew substantially during his time, quadrupling over a two year period.

From 1949 until 1968, Father Cyril I. Vlamynck served as rector of St. John’s. The parish hall and chapel were built during his tenure and the nave was remodeled. St. John’s became a self-sustaining parish in 1951. The church congregation continued to grow during his time in Pascagoula.

The Rev. Harold O. Martin began revitalizing the church property in 1969 by redecorating the basement offices, carpeting the choir and sanctuary and refurbishing the walls surrounding the altar. The church congregation saw growth, many returning after having been away for years. Hurricane Camille spared St. John’s but harmed nearby churches including St. Pierre’s. Father Martin continued with property improvements and beautification adding altar hangings, a hanging Christus Rex above the altar and new stained glass windows. St. John’s youth programs grew and flourished during this time, and church members attended Cursillo and Marriage Encounter, and the church saw an increase in lay leadership. A new parish hall was built in 1976 providing classrooms, offices, a kitchen, and multi-purpose parish hall for meetings.

The Rev. Paul E. Cosby became rector in late 1978. Under his leadership, St. John’s lay ministry and outreach grew, including medical missions to Central America and programs to feed the hungry. Funds were raised to purchase a pipe organ in 1983. St. John’s EYC grew and became more active during the early 80’s. In 1985, the first woman priest to be ordained in the Diocese of Mississippi, Annwn Hawkins, was ordained at St. John’s. She had served as curate for the previous year.

In 1987, the Rev. John M. Gibson served as rector. His focus on outreach and religious education built programs that continue today. The small study groups formed during his tenure focused on in-depth Christian understanding and, at the same time, strengthened relationships across the parish.

In 2005, the new rector was the Rev. Dennis L. Ryan. Most notably, Father Ryan led St. John’s members through disaster recovery following Hurricane Katrina. His dynamic leadership facilitated outreach across the Pascagoula community to provide sheetrock for rebuilding.

Most recently, the Rev. Tom Fanning served as St. John’s rector from 2014 until 2023.  Under his leadership, the children’s programs were strengthened to address the increase in young families and children. His leadership throughout the COVID pandemic ensured our parish remained strong and vibrant.

St. John’s celebrates more than a century as a community of faith, a community with a rich history as part of the city of Pascagoula. Our building is a local historic landmark and stands as a testament to survival, determination and faith.   

SOURCE: Summarized from On Our Way Rejoicing: A Centennial History of St. John's Episcopal Church, Pascagoula,
and St. Pierre's Chapel, Gautier by Jim LeBatard.