St. John's Episcopal Church Bell Tower - Worthington, OH
N 40° 05.322 W 083° 01.046
17T E 328009 N 4439552
St. John's Episcopal Church is of Gothic Revival architecture and was designed and built by John Snow.
Waymark Code: WMBFFF
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 05/15/2011
Views: 2
"St. John's Episcopal Church is the original building on the lot granted for church use by the founding settlers in 1803. Their leader, James Kilbourne, was an ordained Episcopal deacon. This building was erected between 1827 and 1831. Historically, the church is significant as the organizational and spiritual focus of the original settlers. Nationally, it represents the first Episcopal congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains."
-- Source
An historical marker adjacent to the church provides the following information:
SIDE 1: Saint John's Church of Worthington and Parts Adjacent
In October of 1803, members of The Scioto Company, led by James Kilbourne, came from Connecticut and founded Worthington. On February 6, 1804, the Articles of Agreement establishing St. John's Church of Worthington were executed. St. John's, which had been planned in Connecticut prior to the Company's departure, became the first Episcopal church established in the Northwest Territory and served as the founding church for several Episcopal churches in Ohio. James Kilbourne served as the church's first Deacon. Reverend Philander Chase, the first Rector of St. John's, became the first Episcopal Bishop of Ohio and founded Kenyon College. St. John's Church and graveyard are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
SIDE 2: Church and Graveyard
This Gothic Revival style church was completed in 1831. The first settlers brought an altar, which is still in use. A bell brought with the settlers served the early school and church in a log cabin located on the northeast quadrant of the Village Green. Today the bell is in the bell tower of Kilbourne Middle School. The present church bell was purchased in Pittsburgh and first tolled here in 1833. The church graveyard was established with the burial of Captain Abner Pinney on November 23, 1804, and served as the community burial ground in the early nineteenth century. James Kilbourne is buried in the graveyard. There are 317 documented burials including five Revolutionary War and seven War of 1812 veterans.