|
|
 |
|
|
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 117 YEARS IN SAN DIEGO EAST COUNTYSt. John's Church (Bostonia 1889-1950)
St. Alban's Church (El Cajon (1950-Present) |
|
|
|
Early History The first unsigned paragraphs in the minutes book of St.John's Church , Bostonia tell about the first services of the Episcopal Church held in our
valley in 1889.
|
|
|
|
"On Monday, September 17, 1889 the Rev. Henry Restarich accompanied by the Rev. Sanderson, W. H. Taggart and Master Ernest Williams started on a camping trip with the
object of holding the services of the Church at various points. They arrived at El Cajon at dark, and at 7:30 p.m. held service in the school house in the hall above the school
room. Mr. Harry Furber had ridden around to give notice of the service. Among those present were Mr. Nichols and his son who had come eight miles from their ranch in Sweetwater. Mr.
Restarick delivered an address after which he asked the people what they desired about organizing with a view to future Church Services. A mission was organized then and there. Mr. Nichols was
elected Warden and Mr. Furber, clerk." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The anonymous writer goes on to say there followed a shaky beginning of our Church in the area. In 1892 the Lay Readers' Association of St. Paul's Church in
San Diego was formed. One of these eight lay readers licensed by Bishop William Kip of California, would come out each Tuesday for services. Still "attendance was small, and it was discouraging
to one not firm in the faith."
In June of 1894, The Rev. H. B. Restarick, who was to become a Bishop of Hawaii, spent two days with the men interested in the mission. After
much discussion the land offered by the Boston Vineyard Company was accepted. The mission was named St. John's. H. C. Parke, Warden of St. John's Church, Detroit, Michigan, became a generous
donor. His children who were living at the Parke ranch in the El Cajon Valley, were active members of the Bostonia mission. |
|
|
|
|
By 1895 the church building was almost completed, but it was not consecrated until July 8, 1900 by the Bishop of Los Angeles, The Rt. Rev. Joseph H. Johnson. By this
time St. John's had a permanent vicar.
There followed some years of sporadic growth; several vicars, some of whom lived in Bostonia, and others who were non-residents, came and went.
During the mid-twenties St. John's was served by the Rev. Frederick J. Bate, affectionately called "Termite Bate" because of his love of working with wood. It was he who carved and built
the redwood altar, communion rail and credence table that is still in use today in St. John's Chapel of St. Alban's Church, El Cajon.
During much of World War II the vicar was the Rev. C.
Boone Sadler, Jr. While most of the records of this period deal with financial matters, they do reveal that St. John's was active in the war effort by offering its facilities as a first aid center, and as a place of
recreation for servicemen. |
|
|
|
The Move To El Cajon
By the late 1940's the populatlion center of the El Cajon Valley had changed; it was decided to move St. John's from Bostonia to its present location on Farragut
Circle. The church building itself was moved and ground breaking for the new Parish House occurred August 13, 1950. The last vicar of St. John's and the first vicar of St. Alban's was the Rev.
Aubry Bray. The Rev. John Lax and his family came to St Alban's in 1951. This was a time of building and growth. The rectory was built and completed in
1952.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon the retiremennt of Fr. Lax in 1969, the Rev. Arthur Dean Crouse became rector. These years saw the development of the school and new youth programs.
In 1974 Fr. Crouse was succeeded by the Rev. Kenneth R. Treat.
.
|
|
