The Little Church on the Hill: St. John's in Chews Landing
Perched on a rise overlooking Old Black Horse Pike in the Chews Landing section of Blackwood, the Church of Saint John the Evangelist has been a presence in Gloucester Township for more than two centuries. Local farmers, shopkeepers, and craftsmen gathered on November 14, 1789, to found the parish, originally known as St. John's Church at the Head of Timber Creek. The congregation still calls itself "The Little Church on the Hill," and the stone building they worship in today has stood since 1881.
St. John's is a parish of the Diocese of New Jersey within The Episcopal Church. Members describe themselves as a loving community of Episcopalians dedicated to serving their Lord and one another, and the parish is known in the area for its long history, its small but high-quality choir, and the breadth of its outreach work in Camden and the surrounding South Jersey communities.
A Parish Founded in Revolutionary Times
The story of St. John's is in many ways a reflection of the early American republic. The first church, built of red cedar, was raised in August 1790, but money ran short. Aaron Chew, a local war hero, was sent out to raise more funds, and his list of donors reads like a roll call of the founding generation. Three signers of the Declaration of Independence, the first Speaker of the House of Representatives, a future Director of the U.S. Mint, several state governors, members of Congress, George Washington, and James Madison all contributed.
The Rev. Levi Heath served as the first clergyman from 1789 to 1794. After him, itinerant missionary priests assigned by the Bishop visited when they could. In 1836 the Rev. Hiram R. Harrold became rector and served until 1850. The parish then entered a long period of decline, even closing its doors at one point, before being revived around 1860 by St. Paul's Church in Camden, whose rector, the Rev. Joseph F. Garrison, held monthly services here for about ten years. Two ladies from St. Paul's also founded a Sunday School that grew to one hundred pupils.
The congregation grew steadily under the Rev. Gustavus Murray, rector of Grace Church in Haddonfield, who began serving St. John's about 1872. During his decade in charge, the parish built the stone church that still stands. Philadelphia architect George Watson Hewitt drew the plans, and local shipbuilder Edmund Brewer donated Pennsylvania stone, which he floated down the Delaware on his scows; area residents then hauled it by wagon from the river landing to the building site. Bishop John Scarborough laid the cornerstone on November 14, 1880, and consecrated the finished structure on November 9, 1881. The Right Reverend Robert E. Sullivan, Jr., now Rector Emeritus, served the parish for twenty-five years beginning in 1972 and guided it through two hundredth and two hundred twenty-fifth anniversaries.
Worship on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday
St. John's keeps a weekly rhythm of worship that gives visitors several ways to join in. On Saturday evening at 5:00 PM, the parish celebrates a modern-language Rite II Eucharist without music. On Sunday morning there are two celebrations: an 8:00 AM Rite I service in traditional language, and a 10:00 AM Rite II Eucharist with the choir. The 10:00 AM service is also accessible by Zoom for those who cannot attend in person. A midweek Rite II Eucharist is offered on Wednesday at 10:00 AM.
The difference between Rite I and Rite II is the language of the prayers: Rite I uses the older English of the historic Prayer Book and tends to feel more traditional, while Rite II uses contemporary English and is described by the parish as modern-style. The church points newcomers to the Episcopal Church's own glossary if they would like to know more about the two rites.
Sunday School for children meets each week at 9:45 AM in the Parish Hall, between the two Sunday services, so families can attend the 10:00 AM liturgy together after class. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the regular services.
Christian Formation from Preschool through High School
St. John's has one of the more established Sunday School programs in the area. The Church School runs from mid-September through mid-June, with six full-time volunteer teachers and parent assistants leading classes from preschool through high school. Children three years old through kindergarten meet downstairs in the Parish Hall for a short service with songs, prayers, and Bible stories, using the Living the Good News curriculum along with supplementary materials. Elementary-age children continue in a more structured classroom setting.
A particular point of pride is the parish's Holy Communion Program, in place since 1988. Second graders spend several weeks preparing for Solemn Communion Day, with lessons on Baptism, Community, the life of Jesus, Prayer, Forgiveness, Stewardship, the Last Supper, the Way of the Cross, and Mission. Adult sponsors are paired with each candidate, pray for them through the weeks of preparation, and receive Communion alongside the child and family on the big day. The program ends with a candle lit in memory of the child's Baptism and a procession that sends them out to be, in the parish's own words, "the Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ."
Middle and high school students serve as acolytes on a rotating basis, and confirmation classes prepare older youth for that rite in the wider Episcopal Church. Each Christmas Eve the Church School children present a pageant at the early family service. Youth Group events for grades 5 through 12 are held several times a year and mix social outings, service projects, and educational activities; recent gatherings have included a bowling night at Bowlero in Deptford and a fall festival with pumpkin carving, games, and old scary movies.
The Choir, the Labyrinth, and Quiet Days
Music has long been a strength of the parish. The choir, directed by organist and Music Director Lawrence De Pasquale, is small in number but consistently praised for its quality. The choir sings at the 10:00 AM Sunday service and at several special services throughout the year, and also takes part in ecumenical choir services in the area. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings at 7:30 PM in the church; new members are welcome.
St. John's also hosts a yearly schedule of quieter, more contemplative events. In Advent and again in Lent, the parish offers a Quiet Day held in the church and parish hall, beginning with Morning Prayer and a guided meditation on a classical painting chosen from a large collection of prints. After lunch and Noon-Day Prayers, participants are invited to walk the parish's own labyrinth, an outdoor feature next to the parish hall that also serves as the setting for the annual Blessing of the Animals each October.
A Parish That Looks Outward
Outreach is woven into the life of St. John's in many directions. The parish maintains a regular partnership with St. Paul's Church in Camden, where volunteers bring and serve a hot meal to the homeless and needy on the fourth Sunday of months with five Sundays, leaving the Chews Landing parking lot at about 3:30 PM.
Other ongoing outreach efforts include:
- An Advent and Christmas project that adopts families in need, purchasing coats, clothing, gift cards, and toys.
- A Lenten project whose proceeds go to Episcopal Relief and Development.
- Tools for Schools, an annual summer drive where parishioners fill backpacks with school supplies for distribution to area schools and shelters.
- A Pet Outreach program collecting food, litter, blankets, towels, and toys for local animal shelters.
- Donations to Senior Citizens United Community Services (SCUCS), including canned goods and cash gifts to stock food packages for seniors in need.
- A Wish Tree at Christmas that collects gifts for less fortunate children.
- Ongoing support for The Unforgotten Haven, a South Jersey non-profit that feeds the homeless, assists victims of house fires, and collects supplies for veterans.
The parish hall is also home to two weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: a 12-step meeting on Thursday evenings at 7:30 PM and an AA Big Book meeting on Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM.
Episcopal Church Women and the Girls' Friendly Society
The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) at St. John's meet on the first Monday of each month for fellowship and parish business. The group raises money for the parish and supports the United Thank Offering, Mission Outreach, and Student Service awards, and they organize several signature events: the annual Gift Basket Auction each April, an Irish Potatoes candy fundraiser, a wine glass painting night, a cookie exchange, and the parish's largest single fundraiser, the Spaghetti Dinner held the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
The Girls' Friendly Society (GFS), a ministry within the Episcopal Church for girls and young women, also meets at St. John's. The local chapter now welcomes members who previously met at St. Mary's in Clementon and gathers every other Monday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, with meetings hosted on the parish grounds and special presentations after the 10:00 AM service marking the GFS World Day of Prayer.
Fellowship Around the Tables
Parish life at St. John's has the comfortable feel of a small church that likes to eat together. The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on the evening before Ash Wednesday offers all-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon, and sausage, with take-out available. The annual Sunday School Picnic in September, hosted by the Vestry after the family service, brings grills out to the rear parking lot behind the Parish Hall for a buffet of homemade salads and desserts, plus games for the children and Sunday School registration.
A monthly Lord of Life Sunday discussion gathers after the 10:00 AM service in the Parish Hall for fellowship and conversation about how and where members see Christ at work in their daily lives. Coffee hour follows the 10:00 AM liturgy each week, and additional gatherings include a Winter Soup Sale, the Easter Egg Hunt, and the Annual Parish Meeting Luncheon.
The Building, the Grounds, and a Place to Remember
The 1881 stone church sits on grounds that have been part of the parish since the earliest years of the republic. The churchyard includes a cemetery with graves dating to the Revolutionary era, and an area for cremains is available. The church building was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1980, the same year the churchyard was listed as a National Historic Site, and the 100th anniversary of the present building's consecration was observed in 1981.
Across the street stands the Parish Hall, originally built in 1915 through a gift from Miss Diadema Perce and later renovated and enlarged in 1974 under the leadership of Fr. Sullivan. Improvements during his tenure also included a new pipe organ, air conditioning, and the refurbishing of the pews. The hall is the hub of much parish life: Sunday School, coffee hour, ECW meetings, AA gatherings, Lenten covered-dish suppers, parish picnics, spaghetti dinners, and pancake suppers all happen under its roof.
The grounds also host an outdoor labyrinth next to the Parish Hall, the setting each year for the Blessing of the Animals on the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Dogs, cats, birds, rats, and even stuffed and imaginary pets are all welcome.
Who Leads the Parish
The Rev. Canon Richard C. Wrede serves as Priest in Charge and Parish Priest. He is assisted by Deacon Ken Carpinelli. The Rev. Robert E. Sullivan, Jr., who served as rector from 1972 to 1997, is Rector Emeritus. Lawrence De Pasquale is the Organist and Music Director, leading rehearsals on Thursday evenings and accompanying the choir at the 10:00 AM Sunday service and at special liturgies.
The parish is governed by a Vestry with twelve elected members serving three-year terms. The 2026 leadership includes Senior Warden D. Lee Jones, Junior Warden Phyllis Sowers, Treasurer Peggy Cardone, and Vestry members Pat Bosch, Casey Conn, Lou Dececco, Mike Lutz, Christa Martinez, David Martinez, Zach Matusheski, Edie Power, Eric Sikorski, Judy Vaughan-Sterling, Ellie Vahey, and Angela Wellman. Donna Jones serves as Sexton and Chris Goodman as Parish Secretary.
Visiting The Little Church on the Hill
The church is at 1720 Old Black Horse Pike in Chews Landing, Blackwood, New Jersey, with parking available in a lot directly across the street from the church. Detailed written directions from Routes 168 and 42 and from U.S. 30 are available for first-time visitors coming from any direction.
Office hours are Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to noon. The parish can be reached by phone at (856) 227-1051 or by email at St.Johns1789@verizon.net. Worship bulletins, a calendar of upcoming services and events, and back issues of the parish newsletter, The Messenger, are all available online. Giving is supported through the parish's Realm platform, and the 10:00 AM Sunday service is broadcast on Zoom for those unable to attend in person. Visitors are welcome at any of the regular weekly services, and newcomers will find a congregation that has been gathering on this hill for more than two centuries.