Who We Are
We are an Episcopal community of faith united by progressive theology and respect for tradition that invites everyone to join in the Christian journey of faith, doubt, growth, and transformation. We are an affirming congregation, which means that if you identify as LGBTQIA+, we don’t just welcome you; we celebrate you as you are!
We are part of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, the Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion. Click on the logos to learn more about these communities of faith.
What We Believe
We are an Episcopal church that believes that God calls us in all our diversity—cultural or ethnic background, political or religious affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, or lived experience—into a community of faith that celebrates our gifts and uses them to transform the world.
Our Space
Saint John’s is located in Old Irving Park on the corner of Byron and Kostner.
We began in 1883 when an Episcopalian resident of Irving Park began conducting Sunday School classes in her home for area children. Our original wood frame building was erected in 1888 on land donated by an area farmer. We became a parish in 1905. The building was substantially modified in a 1924 renovation, and has changed often over the years.
Our front doors are painted red, following an ancient tradition indicating a place of sanctuary. We want our church to be a place of spiritual and physical sanctuary. We hope that you will find it a warm and inviting place, filled with beautiful music offered by our our choir and organist; filled with light and color from our historic stained glass windows.
Antiracism
St. John’s embraces an antiracism mission. In this video, members of the St. John’s community talk about why this is so important to us.
We Stand on the Land of Native Peoples
St. John’s stands on the land of Native peoples. For thousands of years this was the territory of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa. They welcomed the Ho-Chunk, Fox, Sauk, Miami, Kickapoo, and Illinois confederacy tribes and offered assistance to the first Europeans to travel here. These nations were forced from this land in 1833 by the Treaty of Chicago. St. John’s now stands on this land, seeking a new relationship of honor and respect for the Ojibwe, Lakota, Dakota, Navajo, Choctaw, Cherokee, Potawatomi, Odawa/Ottawa, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, Blackfeet, Cree, and Alaskan Native peoples, our Chicago neighbors.
