Our History
St. John's Church has been a part of the Pleasantville community since 1853 when it was established as a mission church of Grace Church in White Plains. The Reverend Robert W. Harris, Rector of Grace Church, was the Priest-in-Charge. Services were held in a schoolhouse in the Old Village until 1885.
In that same year the congregation occupied a new sanctuary on Bedford Rd. which served as it's home until the present building was occupied in 1912 under the rectorate of the Reverend Dr. Stephen Holmes. The old building now serves as the Pleasantville Community Synagogue.
To meet the demands of a growing church community, the parish hall was added on at a cost of $52,000. Built of native stone with a roof of Vermont slate, it was completed in 1929 under the rectorate of the Reverend Emmons Parkman Burrill. In 1972 the classroom and office wing was completed.
The present Rectory of St. John's dates back to 1785 and is the oldest house in Pleasantville. It was purchased in 1920 from Miss Caroline Choate who had acquired and lovingly restored the property the year before. The historic integrity of the Rectory as a pre-Revolutionary building has been respected whenever possible while still allowing for modern conveniences necessary for comfortable daily life.
A notable characteristic of St. John's is the tenure of service of its Rectors. Since 1881 the rectorage has been held by six clergymen, whose average tenure has been 19 years. The Reverend Emmons Parkman Burrill served for 30 years; the Reverends Stephen Homes and Bradford W. Ketchum, for 25 years.
