Restoring St. John’s Episcopal Church
Restoring St. John’s Episcopal Church
G Wilbur Northrup Building Endowment Fund Supports Recent Restoration Efforts
Photos / Jessica Schultz, ellicottvilleNOW
Saint John’s Episcopal Church has been a long-standing staple of the historic Four Corners of Ellicottville, NY. A true testament of the commitment and faith a community holds, and in return it reminds us of the rich history held within its walls.
A congregation of settlers established the church in 1829, the first of their denomination in the area. It was then built in 1834 on one of the corners of Washington St. and Jefferson St., a Gothic Revival church unique to the area. Inside and out, you’ll always find yourself something new to admire, from the fine detail in the pew doors, to the towering bell tower.
One of the most notable features of the church is “Gabriel”, a bell, purchased for $125 by subscription and cast in Malaga, Spain in 1708. The bell originally was part of a monastery until a fire where it switched hands, was sold, resold, then finally found its way to its final home at St. John’s Episcopal Church by two oxen and wagon making the delivery in 1838. Gabriel is said to be the oldest working church bell in New York and possibly the United States at 315 years old.
The church is true to its original state, without addition or tear down. The belfry, which is the bell tower that holds Gabriel, draws your eyes up to the exterior details throughout. A masterpiece in design and built entirely of wood, St. John’s features detailed finials and spires on the rooftop. The classically white painted facade is an original characteristic of the church, almost as if it were a bright beacon of faith on a sunny day or a quiet reminder of a calm, snowy night.
Onlookers often stop and stare at the wonder the building holds. Within the interior of the church is where you’ll find some interesting characteristics. An obviously uncommon feature is the double aisle, opposed to single centered. You’ll also notice doors at the ends of the pews with fine detail of the generations before. As a member of the congregation, Amy DeTine had stated that “the historic nature of the church is truly something to be enjoyed, and rightfully so.” She continues, “We still have an organist that plays for us and that’s a piece of history in itself, along with another one that was originally used in the church and is still onsite.” There prove to be plenty of relics to admire whether you’re in a service or exploring the architecture.
The extensive history of St. John’s Church has put it in favorable position, recognized and loved by members and the community alike. In the true fashion of the Village of Ellicottville, the church is regarded as a prized piece of history and thankfully many work diligently to keep it that way. The G Wilbur Northrup Building Endowment Fund for St. John’s Episcopal Church was generously founded in January of 1978 after his passing, by his son John Northrup, and Dave Eldredge. With this funding they were just recently able to complete a costly renovation to keep up the integrity of the building, nearing $100,000.
Under the direction and funding of The G Wilbur Northrup Building Endowment Fund, Aldrich Painting applied a fresh coat of paint to the entirety of the church. They worked with local companies including Fitzpatrick and Weller to repair, restore, and replace lumber where needed while matching the detail of the structure. Also included in the restoration was Mazza Sheet Metal of Olean, who added aluminum to the spires to better hold for future weathering. Additional projects by Carpentry by Gerry Musall and his crew were completed throughout the building to finish up some much-needed cosmetic touches.
John Northrup explained the need for restorations on a building having been built “in the early 1800s and try to restore it so that it’ll continue to be a beautiful building on the four corners of Ellicottville” and a lot goes into that. Not often do you see wooden churches nearing their 200th year. Many have caught fire or have faced irreputable damage before the days of preservation societies.
It’s important to keep the dignity of this work going and we encourage you to donate, if possible, to The G Wilbur Northrup Building Endowment Trust Fund, which recently launched a Facebook page and is working on an online platform for donations. There you can keep up-to-date with the recent renovation, history and further information on projects and donations.
The Four Corners of The Village of Ellicottville are a piece of history, and each corner serves its story to that. Across from St. John’s Church you can extend your knowledge at the Ellicottville Historical Society, joining them for their upcoming Historical Walk. The guided tour will stop at St. John’s Church so you can see and hear for yourself the importance it has served.
The Tour is set for Saturday, September 16th at 1:00pm and costs $10 cash per person. Led by Historical Society VP Ellen Frank, she states how “we talk about the Four Corners and how that was part of Joseph Ellicott’s vision.” If you can’t make the tour, try to stop by the museum before they close at the end of September and ask Sue Parson for a tour of the church where you’ll even be able to hear Gabriel, the bell, ring.
There are many ways to become more involved in the history and faith of St John’s Episcopal Church. The congregation welcomes visitors to attend their Saturday evening service at 5:00pm lead by Pastor Kim Rossi.
The intimate feel of the church is the perfect fit to Ellicottville’s small size but big character. “We do a 5:00pm service every Saturday evening, which is great for a ski town, you know, so people can ski all day on Saturday, go to church, and then still be able to go out to dinner and socialize with friends and then they’re back on the slopes Sunday morning. So it’s been a welcome tradition for many skiing families that come and go,” Amy DeTine explains. You’re encouraged to check it out for yourself. Whether you’re locally rooted or just passing through, they expend their hand to all.
You can find St. John’s Episcopal Church at 2 W. Washington St., Ellicottville, NY 14731.