Mission of St. John in the Wilderness

Church of St. John in the Wilderness seeks to live into our faith by being an inclusive, welcoming house of worship; a church whose doors are open to all our neighbors and which reaches out to serve Christ in all persons; a community that advocates for justice and peace for all, and respects the dignity and worth of every individual; a church which celebrates creation and shows reverence for the beauty that God has given us.

Leadership

Clergy
The Rev. John P. Thompson, Rector
Vestry
Brian Boom, Warden, 1/26
Wendy Langlois, Warden, 1/27
Karen Flynn, Treasurer
Wendy Langlois, Vestry Clerk
Karen Wimmer1/26
Ginny Johnson 1/27
Elen Freeston 1/27
Judy Whitbeck 1/28
Jane Peck 1/28

The Rev. John P. Thompson, Rector

St John’s has been a vital part of the village of Copake Falls and the surrounding region for more than 165 years and has shared their ups and downs.

Some members of the early church were farmers, but many were involved in mining and smelting the iron ore deposit whose remains lie just west of the church. Thus, our early history parallels that of the Copake Iron Works, which was established in 1846 by Lemuel Pomeroy of Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Visit from Bishop Jeremiah Williamson,
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany

Our History

The Church is a historic Episcopal church in Copake Falls, Columbia County, New York. The church, its furnishing, and the parsonage were designed by noted ecclesiastical architect Richard Upjohn (1802–1878). It was built in 1851 and is a one-story wood-frame building clad with board and batten siding in the Gothic Revival style. It features an open frame bell cote topped by a steep gable roof. Also on the property are a contributing parsonage (1853) and two cemeteries. St John in the Wilderness is designed by Richard Upjohn, founding President of the American Institute of Architects in 1857, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Under the leadership of the Rev. John Thompson, The Church of St. John in the Wilderness has become a cultural center for Copake Falls, hosting stage plays, chamber music (Winds in the Wilderness), and Jazz Vespers. Each year, the church sponsors the Country Fair and Auction in July, Harvest Fest in October, and participates in Copake Falls Day in August.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.[1] It is located within the Copake Iron Works Historic District, established in 2007. - text courtesy Wikipedia

Cultural heritage landmarks in Copake Falls