About St. John's
A living liturgy
At St. John’s Episcopal Church, we worship through the ancient rhythms of the Christian tradition while making room for the questions and realities of our lives today.
Our theology is rooted in Scripture, tradition, and reason. We take faith seriously without believing we have to stop asking questions. There is room here for certainty and doubt, tradition and discovery, faith and possibility.
And at the center of it all is Christ's table: a place to receive grace, find renewal, and remember that we belong to Christ and one another.
The Episcopal Church is a Christian denomination rooted in the Anglican tradition, centered on Jesus Christ and shaped by Scripture, tradition, reason, and common prayer. St. John’s is part of The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, joining a wider community of churches committed to worship, service, and the dignity of every person.
Learn more about The Episcopal Church
We believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We follow Jesus Christ and seek to love God and our neighbors, grounded in Scripture and shaped by the wisdom of tradition, reason, and the Holy Spirit. We believe every person bears the image of God and is worthy of dignity, welcome, and love.
Learn more about the beliefs of the The Episcopal Church.
We believe every person is created in the image of God and has inherent dignity and worth. At St. John’s, LGBTQIA+ people are cherished as part of the Body of Christ, with their gifts, relationships, and full lives celebrated as part of our community.
Yes, LGBTQIA+ people can be fully themselves here.
Yes, LGBTQIA+ couples can be married here.
Yes, LGBTQIA+ people can serve and lead in every part of the life of the church.
Our welcome is not conditional on who you are, whom you love, or how you identify.
Whether you’ve been to church your whole life or have never been inside one, you are welcome at St. John’s. Our Sunday worship follows the Episcopal tradition of Scripture, prayer, music, and Eucharist, with the congregation participating throughout the service.
You don’t need to know when to stand, what to say, or what to do next. The service bulletin will guide you through it all.
When it’s time for Communion, all are welcome at God’s table. No exceptions.
Have kids? Bring them.
Children are welcome throughout worship, and we have busy bags and books available in the sanctuary. Professional childcare is available, and elementary-aged children can participate in Godly Play after Communion during the school year.
After worship, stay for coffee, tea, snacks, and conversation. You can meet someone new or simply hang out for a while.
A Legacy of Radical Love
Founded on December 28, 1841, St. John’s is the second-oldest Episcopal parish in St. Louis and the fifth-oldest in Missouri. For nearly two centuries, our story has been one of faith put into action. We are a community that has moved with the city, grown with its people, and sought to meet each moment with grace.
Our first rector, the Rev. Whiting Griswold, died while serving parishioners and orphans during the 1849 cholera epidemic. Since then, 21 more rectors have served St. John’s. Originally founded to serve residents of southern downtown St. Louis, the congregation moved to Lafayette Park before settling in the Tower Grove neighborhood as the city expanded south and west. Our present building was completed in 1910.
Throughout our history, St. John’s has been part of the Church’s work toward greater inclusion. We were likely the first parish in Missouri to discontinue pew rentals, a practice that separated people by social class, and the first to establish a vested boys’ choir.
We have a wealth of history behind us and a future still being written. We honor those who built this community by continuing to reach out, look ahead, and trust in God’s abundance and grace.
Our Leadership
Our leadership team serves the congregation and community of St. John's with humility and purpose.
Rev. Jeff Goldone
Interim Priest-in-Charge
Pronouns: he/him
Email:
Phone: (314) 910-8076
Bonnie Wilson
Director of Music Ministries
Pronouns: she/her
Rev. Thomas Skillings
Associated Priest
Pronouns: he/him
Email: office@towergrovechurch.org
Phone: (314) 772-3970
Paul Freeman
Acting Senior Warden
(until January 2027, Vestry through January 2029)
Pronouns: he/him
Rev. Dr. Carol Wesley
Associated Priest
Pronouns: she/her
Email: office@towergrovechurch.org
Phone: (314) 772-3970
Mary Anne Pikrone
Junior Warden (through January 2027)
Robert Emert
Parish Administrator
Pronouns: he/him
Email: office@towergrovechurch.org
Phone: (314) 772-3970
Darryl Swearngin
Treasurer (through January 2029)
Pronouns: he/him
Jonathan Cureton
Vestry Member
Pronouns: he/him
Dawn Indelicato-Faw
Secretary and Vestry Member
Pronouns: she/her
Ronya McCool
Vestry Member
Pronouns: she/her
Rodney Malone
Vestry Member
Pronouns: he/him
Casey Finan (Oak Hill)
Youth Minister – Middle School
Pronouns: he/him
Email: towergroveyouthgroup@gmail.com
Phone: (314) 772-3970
GOVERNANCE
Vestry Meeting Minutes
The Vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. Here you can find the latest meeting minutes and governance documents to stay informed about our church's operations and decisions.