THE PEOPLE OF ST. JOHN'S

 

Since St. John's is the only Episcopal Church in the city, members come from both ends of our road system. The congregation of St. John's is intergenerational and come from culturally diverse backgrounds.  Membership is mainly Caucasian, followed in number by Tlingit, Tsimshian, Haida, Asian, Hispanic, and African-Americans.  Its members are employed in city, State and federal governments, business, tourism, fishing, construction, teaching and others. Coast Guard personnel stationed in Ketchikan make up a small portion of transient members, and are a welcome presence.  Some members are lifelong Ketchikan residents, some are from other parts of Alaska, and some moved from the "lower forty-eight” states or other locations.  

 

Frequently during the summer, tourists attend St. John's Sunday services, and many stop to visit while taking Ketchikan's walking tour.  Most of the tourists come from the Cruise ships, which dock daily within walking distance in the summer. A group of loyal parishioners works to keep the church building staffed and open five days a week during the summer so that visitors share the beauty and serenity of our sanctuary, and can learn about the history of the building and the congregation.  The group also has locally made beaded rosaries as well as other religious and spiritual items for sale in the small gift shop in the nave of the church in the summer.

 

Despite Ketchikan's presently poor economy, membership at St John’s has been holding steady, and  active members of the church are optimistic, enthusiastic, and very proud of their church and its historic role in the community. We are concerned about lapsed members and desire them to resume active membership.