St. John's Episcopal Church

St. John's Episcopal Church is a vibrant, diverse and welcoming parish located in beautiful historic Deadwood, South Dakota whee parishioners find a joyful balance in traditional liurgy and contemporary world view.  St. John's is rooted in the traditional Episcopal liturgy and expands its reach to a contemporary world view consistent with the national church. (epsicopalchurch.org)

The church holds two weekly services: Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Rite Two with Holy Eucharist and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., Rite Two with music and Holy Eucharist. Sunday school is available for children at the Sunday service from September-May.

HISTORY: The first Episcopal service in Deadwood was conducted by Seth Bullock in August, 1876. Using a borrowed Book of Common Prayer, he read the Burial Office for Preacher Smith, the itinerant Methodist minister famously killed by road agents on his way to preach in a nearby town. The first organized Episcopal service was held in 1877; over 100 men and three women attended. A year later the construction of the St. John's Church building was conceived in the community mind.

The cornerstone was laid in 1880 at 401 Williams Street with Bishop Hare present. Bull teams pulled rough lumber from Ft. Pierre for the roof beams to be hand hewn locally. The structure's bricks, from a local brick yard near the placer mines, contain a trace of gold. The first service was held in the spring of 1881.

St. John's Church is the Mother Church for the Black Hills region. It remains the oldest standing monument of Christian witness still in use in the area. Not only does it serve as a gathering place for the faithful of the Parish, but it is a haven of prayer for all who might enter.