St. John's Church in Norristown marks 200th anniversary, refurbishes property

This year?s cool spring weather proved a real challenge for William Feist, who had 27 flats of 36 plants each to get into the ground. But for the longtime sexton at St. John?s Church in Norristown, it was a labor of love and he was not to be deterred.

So, once Mother?s Day had passed (which is, he noted, when gardening outlets will return your money if the plants don?t survive), Feist began his self-appointed task of re-landscaping the Airy Street churchyard and cemetery.

Feist credited the Norristown Garden Club with the design for the garden in front of the church but plotted out the award-winning additions to the back of the property himself.

Now with the gardens in bright array, the church staff and parishioners are inviting everyone to walk up the brick drive from Marshall Street or to climb the steps from Airy Street to enjoy the blooms.

In addition, visitors will be able to get a closeup view of the newly refurbished and repainted exterior of the church as the congregation celebrates St. John?s 200th anniversary. Visitors are welcomed any time of day.

Chartered by the Borough of Norristown in 1812, the church, across Airy Street from the Montgomery County Courthouse, was completed in 1814 and was officially consecrated April 6, 1815, by the Rt. Rev. William White, first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Organized just nine months after the incorporation of the Borough of Norristown, it is the oldest church in Norristown and the first organized in Montgomery County following the American Revolution.

Feist has been a member of the church since he was 7 and was recruited by his elementary school music teacher at Norristown?s former Lincoln School.

?Back then,? he recalled, ?the music teacher went around to all of the elementary schools, visiting each one once a week. She asked me if, instead of earning spending money delivering newspapers, I would like to sing in the boys? choir at St. John?s and they would pay me. That sounded good to me. Instead of running around with papers, I could sing and get paid. And I loved to sing.?

Employed by the food industry as a loss contract manager for 28 years, Feist said he figured, when he retired, he would go back to college and study for a new career. Continued...

?But I found my new career before I had a chance to do that,? he laughed, ?so now I?ve been here for 28 years.?

And, according to St. John?s property manager, Harry Cornog, ?Bill is the nucleus of everything that happens around here. He keeps everything spic and span inside and out and he is only employed for 20 hours a week. He is here as a volunteer for 25 to 35 hours every week. During growing season, he has to come here on Saturday and then he?s here on Sunday to make sure all are comfortable.?

Cornog, who has been a member of the church governing body, or vestry, for 39 years, with only the mandatory time off between terms, said the church is looking at its bicentennial as a time to try to expand its outreach in the community, to become involved in activities with other parishes and to welcome newcomers to its congregation.

Long famous for its St. John?s Soup Kitchen, ?founded in 1982 as a necessary outreach to the poor of the community surrounding the church,? according to the church website, the church currently serves more than 600 meals weekly as it welcomes visitors for a hot full-course lunch Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and a hot breakfast on Saturdays, thanks to the efforts of Grace and Cecil Bean and their corps of volunteers.

Cornog said, ?Grace and Cecil Bean have made it the Cadillac of soup kitchens. Around here, the couple is one of our greatest assets.?

?We welcome everyone to the fundraisers run by our fundraising committee,? he added. ?We just had our Strawberry Festival in June and the committee is now working on the Peach Festival for August. Then there is the Christmas Bazaar in November.?

In an effort to revitalize the choir, Cornog said the members have ?just instituted a program where they are getting students from Norristown High and giving them a $200 stipend to put towards their continuing education. Each of the four students selected had to audition at the high school and then audition at the church.

Noting that the church welcomed a new rector, the Rev. Scott P. Albergate, last November, Cornog continued, ?We are trying to get as many new programs started as possible. The future is in our young people so we will try to bring in new families.?

?And bring the church into the 21st century,? declared Feist.

This year?s cool spring weather proved a real challenge for William Feist, who had 27 flats of 36 plants each to get into the ground. But for the longtime sexton at St. John?s Church in Norristown, it was a labor of love and he was not to be deterred.

So, once Mother?s Day had passed (which is, he noted, when gardening outlets will return your money if the plants don?t survive), Feist began his self-appointed task of re-landscaping the Airy Street churchyard and cemetery.

Feist credited the Norristown Garden Club with the design for the garden in front of the church but plotted out the award-winning additions to the back of the property himself.

Now with the gardens in bright array, the church staff and parishioners are inviting everyone to walk up the brick drive from Marshall Street or to climb the steps from Airy Street to enjoy the blooms.

In addition, visitors will be able to get a closeup view of the newly refurbished and repainted exterior of the church as the congregation celebrates St. John?s 200th anniversary. Visitors are welcomed any time of day.

Chartered by the Borough of Norristown in 1812, the church, across Airy Street from the Montgomery County Courthouse, was completed in 1814 and was officially consecrated April 6, 1815, by the Rt. Rev. William White, first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Organized just nine months after the incorporation of the Borough of Norristown, it is the oldest church in Norristown and the first organized in Montgomery County following the American Revolution.

Feist has been a member of the church since he was 7 and was recruited by his elementary school music teacher at Norristown?s former Lincoln School.

?Back then,? he recalled, ?the music teacher went around to all of the elementary schools, visiting each one once a week. She asked me if, instead of earning spending money delivering newspapers, I would like to sing in the boys? choir at St. John?s and they would pay me. That sounded good to me. Instead of running around with papers, I could sing and get paid. And I loved to sing.?

Employed by the food industry as a loss contract manager for 28 years, Feist said he figured, when he retired, he would go back to college and study for a new career.

?But I found my new career before I had a chance to do that,? he laughed, ?so now I?ve been here for 28 years.?

And, according to St. John?s property manager, Harry Cornog, ?Bill is the nucleus of everything that happens around here. He keeps everything spic and span inside and out and he is only employed for 20 hours a week. He is here as a volunteer for 25 to 35 hours every week. During growing season, he has to come here on Saturday and then he?s here on Sunday to make sure all are comfortable.?

Cornog, who has been a member of the church governing body, or vestry, for 39 years, with only the mandatory time off between terms, said the church is looking at its bicentennial as a time to try to expand its outreach in the community, to become involved in activities with other parishes and to welcome newcomers to its congregation.

Long famous for its St. John?s Soup Kitchen, ?founded in 1982 as a necessary outreach to the poor of the community surrounding the church,? according to the church website, the church currently serves more than 600 meals weekly as it welcomes visitors for a hot full-course lunch Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and a hot breakfast on Saturdays, thanks to the efforts of Grace and Cecil Bean and their corps of volunteers.

Cornog said, ?Grace and Cecil Bean have made it the Cadillac of soup kitchens. Around here, the couple is one of our greatest assets.?

?We welcome everyone to the fundraisers run by our fundraising committee,? he added. ?We just had our Strawberry Festival in June and the committee is now working on the Peach Festival for August. Then there is the Christmas Bazaar in November.?

In an effort to revitalize the choir, Cornog said the members have ?just instituted a program where they are getting students from Norristown High and giving them a $200 stipend to put towards their continuing education. Each of the four students selected had to audition at the high school and then audition at the church.

Noting that the church welcomed a new rector, the Rev. Scott P. Albergate, last November, Cornog continued, ?We are trying to get as many new programs started as possible. The future is in our young people so we will try to bring in new families.?

?And bring the church into the 21st century,? declared Feist.

Source: http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2013/07/21/montgomery_life/news/doc51e43e03caaaf262008087.txt

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