Our Story
Who we are...
St. John’s Church at Diocesan Center belongs to the Episcopal Church
and is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.
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New Life at St. John's
St. John’s was opened in 2017 as a new community in an historic church. Under the vision and guidance of our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez, St. John’s cast its net into the immediate neighborhood and the Holy Spirit gave life to our community. Our first vicar, the Rev. Andrew F. Kline, worked tirelessly to build up our common life. In 2019, the St. John’s family grew to become Diocesan Center, welcoming the Offices of the Diocese to our campus. We are proud to be the day-to-day home of the bishop and his staff. In July 2022, the Rev. Christopher L. Schwenk was called as the current vicar.
Together, our community speaks 4 languages, predominantly Spanish, and traces its origins to 6 different countries, predominantly Mexico. The Holy Spirit has truly gathered us from the corners of the earth – a little piece of God’s Kingdom in Norristown.
Beginnings
Founded in 1812, St. John’s was the first church in Norristown and the third in Montgomery County. For over 150 years, it was a lively parish that grew in number and spirit each decade, with generations of families raised up in the faith. These families gave life to numerous ministries that continue to serve the poor and vulnerable in Norristown today, including the Grace & Cecil Bean Soup Kitchen, the Norristown Hospitality Center, and two Norristown Episcopal churches – St. Augustine’s and All Saints’. St. John’s membership declined over the last few decades, in large part due to white flight and demographic change in Norristown. In 2015, its leadership voted to close the parish and return the keys to the Diocese. It was the end of a two-century era. (Photo from postcard dated 1898.)
"We have seen the Risen Lord."
So we are true witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus in Norristown: with Christ we died, and with Christ we were raised to new life. St. John’s is a different place than it was: different people, different culture, different values, different ministries. We’ve planted new seeds, harvested new fruit, and trust that the Holy Spirit will guide us to deeper faith, deeper humility, and new life.
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