John's Episcopal Church

     Silsbee, Texas

Our History:

On June 1, 1954, a group of Episcopalians, desiring an Episcopalian mission in Silsbee, sent a petition to the Bishop of The Diocese of Texas:  Bishop Clinton S. Quin.

The petition was accepted by Bishop Quin on June 7, 1954.  After having services in a school cafeteria and other locations, St. John's first building was completed and dedicated at its present location at 1305 Roosevelt Drive on December 16, 1955. 

St. John's has had a succession of vicars including Frank S. Doremus, Grant A. Herbst, Rev. Joseph Harrison, Rev. Garrett Wingfield, Rev. Donald Sheffield, Rev. James Abernathy, Rev. Jon Sonnen, Rev. John Williams, Rev. Shanna Suarez, and Rev. Mary Wilson.  St. John's, after thirty-eight and one half years as a mission was received as a parish in the Diocese of Texas on February 6, 1990.  

The congregation worships in a beautiful nave built in 1986.  A large cedar tree was standing where the nave is now.  The cedar tree was almost in the exact spot the worship alter is located.  The worship alter is made from that cedar tree.