Architecture and Art
Saint John's has a rich history in the architecture and arts represented in the fabric of our wonderful facility.
Saint John, our Patron
This window depicts St. John, pen in hand, writing his gospel or rev-elation.
Moses and the Law
If you will note the window, you'll see that Moses, holding the commandments, also has his foot on the sleeping lamb. There can be a number of theories on this. I. that as long as the law rules, the lamb remains sleeping. 2. that as long as the lamb sleeps, the law rules.
Christ walking on the Water
This window was given memory of The Rev. Hiram J. Ellis. "Uncle Hi" as he was called, served as Rector for 19 years, which until the tenure of Fr. Ed Monk, was the longest in the history of Saint John's.
Stained Glass
The Gethsemane Window
This window memorializes a very prominent Texan, Justice E.J. Simkins. A native of South Carolina, Justice Simkins served in the Confederate Army, and came to Texas after the war. Active in politics, he was a State Senator, a Justice of the Court of Criminal Appeals. and a regent for the University of Texas. Although busy in public life, he never forgot Corsicana or Saint John's. A founding member of the church, he and his brother gave the land where the church stands.
The Ascension Window
The Ascension Window is given in honor of E.J. Stuart. Mr. Stuart, a mining engineer, was with his family in Mexico, looking over some mining properties. While there, he contracted a fever, and died before they could get him to a physician.
Christ with the Children
This round window above the baptismal font in the west end of the church is dedicated to R.C. Beale, one of the original members of Saint John's.
The Resurrection Window
The next window shows the resurrection. It is dedicated to Mrs. Lucas Munsell Lee, also an original member of St. John's and, a signer of the petition for parish status. She was also a longtime sunday school teacher.
The Nativity Window
The window above the altar, the nativity window, was given in memory by the children of Captain and Mrs. Charles H. Allyn. Captain Allyn was one of the original members of St. John's, one of the signers of the petition for parish-hood, was the treasurer of St. John's until his death. The Allyn children,were the first children baptized in St. John's
Christ the Compassionate
This window is given in memory of William Abner Lang.
The Good Shepherd Window
This window is of historic interest as well as being a beautiful example of religious art. It was given by the Sunday School students in honor of Major and Mrs. Albert F. Lea. Both were longtime Sunday School teachers after the Civil War, and original members of Saint John’s. Major Lea (later Lt. Col.), a cousin of Mrs. Sam Houston, served in the Confederate Army, as did most men of Navarro County. His son, Edward, graduated from West Point just before the war, and elected to remain in the Union Army. Thus, father and son were separated on the eve of the war, and would not meet again for over three years. On January 1, 1863, Major Lea, serving as the commandant of Fort Galveston, led his men in an attack on the USRC Harriet Lane, a Union ship blockading the harbor in preparation for an invasion. After boarding the ship, through the smoke of battle, Major Lea saw a familiar figure lying on the deck. The mortally wounded Lt. Edward Lea saw his father, looked up and said, “It’s all right now, my father’s here.” The Union solider died in the arms of his Confederate father. The city of Albert Lea, MN is named in Lt. Col. Lea’s honor. For more information, follow this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Miller_Lea
Architecture
The Architecture of Saint John's
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The current church building, or nave, located at the corner of 14th St and Collin, is the third Saint John's to stand on this property.
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Two parishioners, Bob and Adeline Watt, were traveling in New York on their honeymoon, when they met up with the Rev'd J.C. Black, the Rector of Saint John's at the time, who was returning from Europe after looking at designs for the new Saint John's. At lunch, they were introduced to Stanford White, the world famous architect. Mr. White designed many churches, mansions, and public works. They began discussing church designs, and Mr. White designed Saint John's on a napkin. The napkin has been lost, but Saint John's is still with us.
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The current church was completed in 1908 at a then staggering cost of $17,000.
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An early picture of the "new" Saint John's. Notice the gas lighting on the walls, and no air conditioning.