St. John’s Episcopal Church invited the entire neighborhood to celebrate its 175th anniversary and kick off the new season of ‘Sacred Music at the Red Door.’

By Ronni Newton

Sunday’s block party at St. John’s Episcopal Church was far more than a parish picnic celebrating the end of summer.

“This fits into our mission of building bridges with the community, God, and our neighbors,” said Rev. Susan Pinkerton, who became rector of St. John’s in May 2015.

St. John’s is a destination church, Pinkerton said, and many who attend don’t really know much about the church’s neighbors – those who live in West Hartford as well as right across the line in Hartford. The church, at 679 Farmington Ave., is located just west of the intersection with Prospect Avenue.

St. John’s wants to continue to extend its services to its neighbors, and make them even more aware of its outreach programs. The immediate area includes numerous halfway homes, Pinkerton said, with residents who are dealing with a variety of issues, and the church often acts in a “triage” role helping direct them to the best source of needed services. Many in the parish may not realize the extent of that work, she said.

“The experience Sunday morning is very different from Monday morning,” Pinkerton said.

The block party, held in honor of the church’s 175 anniversary, featured a bounce house and other children’s entertainment as well as food trucks and a performance by the acclaimed folk music duo, The Nields. Many visitors from outside the parish also took advantage of the opportunity to tour the church’s interior, which features stunning stained glass windows and a carving depicting the Last Supper by renowned artist Lew Lawrie on the high altar.

Church historian Bill Uricchio was on hand assisting with the tour and answering questions. “The history of this place is unbelievable,” he said, pointing out the Whitmore Memorial Window which was crafted in 1917 and depicts the women who were important to Jesus.

“We’re hoping it’s the first of what will be an annual block party with the community,” said parishioner Ginny Kemp, one of the event organizers. An hour into the mid-day celebration, more than 150 people had already stopped by, she said. Many more began to arrive as The Nields, who have a sizable local following, began their concert, and Kemp estimated a crowd of approximately 200 at one point.

Guests at the block party included Rabbi Michael Pincus from Congregation Beth Israel, located just one block west of St. John’s. The congregations often collaborate and share in each other’s celebrations, Pinkerton said.

Neighbors who attended also included a recently-resettled Syrian family being co-sponsored by St. John’s and St. James’s Episcopal churches. The family lives right across the street.

St. John’s Music Director Scott Lamlein said that bringing The Nields to St. John’s to kick off Sacred Music at the Red Door’s concert season was also a great way to bring the community together, and to share the church’s beautiful space with those in the community who might not otherwise think to visit.

Having a block party for the community helps build those relationships and gives the church the chance to use the resources with which it has been blessed, Pinkerton said. “It’s all about relationships and transformation of lives … If we can’t do that, we can pack it up and go home,” she said.

For more information about St. John’s Episcopal Church, visit their website. For details about upcoming Sacred Music at the Red Door concerts, visit www.reddoormusic.org or call 860-523-5201.

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