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About Us

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Mission & Vision

Saint John’s La Verne is a Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

Saint John’s Episcopal Church invites everyone at anytime to feel and know the love of God by entering into a holy and vital relationship with Christ and each other through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We fulfill our vision by building a vibrant and dynamic Christ-centered community, which calls people to wholeness through education, word and action.

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Our History

How did St. John's La Verne begin?
The short answer is "quickly".

It all started in 1961 with a child’s wish to attend Sunday School with her weekday schoolmates. From the kindness of a lay reader in Claremont who offered his services, to the initiative of the Vicenti family who gathered twenty signatures to petition the Los Angeles Diocese to establish a preaching mission in the La Verne/San Dimas area. Within two months, Bishop Bloy recommended to the Standing Committee that a preaching station be established and the search for a suitable property began.

By June 4th, the first service was held at the American Legion Hall in La Verne with 45 persons in attendance. The Rev. Thomas Marshall presided over the yet-to-be-named congregation. By October 10, 1961, the local newspaper, the Progress Bulletin, announced the formal name of St. John’s Episcopal Church. The first bulletin with that name was printed for Sunday, October 22. By December, in less than a year, St. John’s Episcopal church celebrated the Christmas season with a 14-children play, “Raphael, the Herald Angel,” a midnight Christmas Eve service, and a progressive dinner on the 29th of the month. Our founders certainly knew how to get things accomplished. By March 15, 1962, escrow closed on the property where St. John’s is located today.

Collage of historical images and newspaper articles about St. John's

Clergy & Staff

Bishop’s Committee

Bishop’s Warden/Stewardship Chair
Stephanie Varnon-Hughes

Junior Warden
Kurt Stetzer

Grounds Coordinator
Kris Andersen

Pastoral Care
Jim Longthorne

Inreach - TBD
Ted Komoto

Outreach
Terri Ensberg

Music Liaison
James Donaldson

Visual Arts & Communications
Dana Ratcliff
Liaison TBD
Mary Angotti

Non-Bishop's Committee Positions

Treasurer
Kate Gasparrelli

Clerk
Dana Ratcliff

Diocese of L.A.

Stay up to date with the Episcopal Church throughout Los Angeles by visiting our Diocesan website.

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