St John the Evangelist Church

St. John’s on Bowdoin Street is the «other» Episcopal Church on Beacon Hill– the other being the Church of the Advent. Like the Advent, St. John’s also bills itself as an Anglo-​Catholic parish, but has a drastically different feel to its liturgy. Its sanctuary was damaged by fire and rebuilt as an eclectic mix of gothic and modern stylings; the service is likewise eclectic and comes across as more Broad Church than High Church. It gets a big plus as a welcoming church (it’s far more hospitable than the Advent); and the small, diverse, and loyal congregation warmly greets you during coffee hour. But as an urban parish, it’s membership seems transitory. Many people seemed to attend because they like «High Church» but had alienating experiences at the Advent.