Parish History

The Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham traces its beginnings to 1879. Land for a church building was purchased in 1881, and a wooden structure was completed in 1883. In 1906, the church building was moved across the street to the corner of Main and Water Streets, less than a quarter mile from historic Hingham Square and the waterfront.

The church’s property also contains the 1788 Federal style house that became the rectory. A wooden parish hall was added to the church, but it burned down in 1912.

The rector at the time, the Rev. George Weld, used his own funds and his personality to persuade parishioners to build a stone parish hall.

In 1921, with the help of our early benefactor Ethel Randolph Thayer, a Tudor Gothic structure, made of granite, replaced the old wooden church. Mrs. Thayer not only provided funds for the construction, she also contributed artifacts, such as the stained-glass windows, the organ, and many other embellishments. Over time, other artwork and furnishings were added. These included the carved wooden reredos designed by Edgar Walker, the 15th century polychrome Madonna in the nave, and a Victorian bishop’s chair that was a gift, among several, from the congregation of St. Andrew’s Church in Hingham, England.

Almost as soon as construction was completed, Rev. Weld resigned, and the Rev. Daniel Magruder became the first of our long-term rectors, serving from 1921–1951. Hallmarks of his ministry were the establishment of a solid financial base through endowments after World War I, and the shepherding of the parish through the Depression, World War II, and postwar years.

Upon Rev. Magruder’s retirement, the Rev. John Gallop became rector, serving from 1951–1979. His ministry was marked by the challenges brought about by the social, political, and economic changes happening in the world. His calm demeanor and his wisdom and clarity from the pulpit helped to bring these issues to the forefront of the congregation. In addition, his ability to teach and educate enabled each parishioner to understand these changes within the context of Christian principles.

In response to overflow congregations, the church was enlarged in 1954. In 1962, Mrs. Thayer gave the parish a new 28-rank, two-manual Aeolian-Skinner organ, in honor of the 75th anniversary and in response to, and recognition of, the importance of music to St. John’s. The old organ chamber became a small side chapel, and a memorial garden was installed opposite the south porch. That year also saw the arrival of the first of a series of curates who served our parish for three years at a time. Most of them lived in the curacy located on Water Street, down the hill from the church.

When John Gallop retired, the Rev. Robert Edson became rector, serving from 1981–2007. Under his ministry, the church doors opened early every day, daily Morning Prayer was instituted, and the Sunday service schedule was changed to 8 AM (Rite I) and 10 AM (Rite II). In 1997, he led the church in a successful capital campaign to renovate Weld Hall and install a sprinkler system throughout the church. The ongoing growth of the congregation, and of Hingham, spurred the effort to start a capital campaign in 2006 to refurbish the rectory, repair the organ, and improve the church school facilities.

The Rev. Timothy Schenck was installed as the eighth Rector of St. John’s in 2009 and served until 2022. Father Tim oversaw a period of strong growth for the parish, hallmarked by excellent preaching, growth in financial support, the formation of new ministries including Becoming Beloved Community, Free., the Not-So-Spooky-Haunted House, and SummerFest. During the COVID pandemic, St. John’s immediately pivoted to online services and activities and provided a touchstone in parishioners’ lives. Guided by lay experts and Diocesan counsel, in-person activities resumed in a series of careful steps in 2021.