St John's Episcopal Church

St John’s Episcopal Church

The Anglican (Church of England) presence on St. Croix began to coalesce in the mid‑18th century, with the parish that became St. John’s established around 1760. Uncommon Caribbean+2Wikipedia+2
The land was acquired by the Church of England in 1752 in order to establish ministry on St. Croix, which was then part of the Danish West Indies. Wikipedia+1
The first rector was the Rev. Cecil Wray Goodchild, arriving from England in 1760, under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. Wikipedia+1
The first church structure was a simple wooden building raised on a brick foundation; by 1772 it was destroyed in a hurricane. Wikipedia+1
A second church was built using more durable Bermudan sandstone and completed in 1779, with seating for about 500 worshippers. Wikipedia+1

Over time the parish grew and underwent major architectural alterations: from its original simple form toward the Gothic Revival style associated with Anglican churches. Uncommon Caribbean+1
In 1854 a set of stained‑glass windows (imported from New York) were installed, and in 1858 a bell tower was added, with a bell inscribed “Meneelys West Troy, N.Y. … Presented to St. John’s Church … A.D. 1857”. Wikipedia
A significant fire on 5 February 1866 destroyed the building (only the walls survived). Wikipedia+1
The church was rebuilt in brick and limestone and completed by 1868. Wikipedia
On 4 October 2016 it (including its graveyard) was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places for its architecture and heritage associations. Wikipedia+1

The congregation at St. John’s was ethnically and socially mixed: white planters, free coloured persons, and enslaved Africans all worshipped there, though segregation was enforced in pew‑allocation, entrances, and registers. Wikipedia+1
- In 1794 free Black parishioners petitioned for pew‑rental rights; approved in 1797. Wikipedia
- In 1810 the vestry reversed the earlier approval and banned Black parishioners from certain pews and use of chairs. stthomassource.com
- Separate baptism, marriage and burial registers were kept for enslaved and free worshippers until 1848 (abolition of slavery). Wikipedia
The church has strong links to Alexander Hamilton: his mother, Rachel Faucette, died of yellow fever in Christiansted in 1768 and her death is recorded in St. John’s registry. The Hamilton family reputedly worshipped there. Wikipedia
The church was known as the “Mother Church” of the diocese in the Virgin Islands, on account of its early establishment and central role. Uncommon Caribbean

Initially under the Bishop of London (Church of England), the parish shifted jurisdiction: in 1824 to the Bishop of Barbados, and in 1842 to the Bishop of Antigua. Wikipedia
After the U.S. purchased the Danish West Indies in 1917, the church’s jurisdiction was transferred to the Domestic and Foreign Mission Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in 1919, and the parish was renamed St. John’s Episcopal Church. Wikipedia
Membership peaked in the mid‑19th century (reportedly ~1,500 members after expansion) but declined in later decades due to economic shifts and emigration. Wikipedia

The church and its adjacent graveyard hold tombstones dating back to the 18th century; some graves lie under the building’s transepts and nave. Wikipedia+1
It is considered a significant architectural landmark in the Virgin Islands, exemplifying the Gothic Revival Anglican style in the Caribbean context. Studio Greene+1
The building’s history reflects major themes of Caribbean colonial history: colonial churches, enslavement, emancipation, multi‑ethnic congregations, economic change, and architectural adaptation.

Location: Plot #27 King Street (or 17B Strand Street per current directory), Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. episcopalassetmap.org+1
Founded: ~1760 (Anglican parish). Uncommon Caribbean+1
Current building date: Completed 1868 (after 1866 fire) though church site occupied since 18th century. Wikipedia
Architecture: Gothic Revival (stone/brick construction). Studio Greene
Historic designation: National Register of Historic Places, 2016. Wikipedia+1