At 2401 College Avenue in Fort Worth, St. John's Anglican Church is known for “Word, Sacrament, and Mission” and the motto “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” The parish centers its life on worshiping Almighty God, proclaiming the Gospel, prayer, and service. Holy Communion and Anglican liturgy shape Sunday worship, while education for children, youth, and adults and partnerships with local organizations extend that life into the surrounding community.
St. John's marks its centennial and describes itself as a founding parish of the Anglican Church in North America. Its Fort Worth home is also the center of three Sunday services, weekday communions, choir rehearsals, nursery care, and a wide program of service.
A Centennial Parish in Fort Worth
Founded in 1926, St. John's marks a centennial anniversary. Its affiliation joins two clear traditions: it is a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, a constituent member of the Anglican Church in North America, and it identifies itself as a founding parish of the Anglican Church in North America. The diocese describes its mission as equipping the saints for the work of ministry. Saint John's tradition is biblical and historic, rooted in the faith of catholic Christianity as expressed through Anglican worship and the Book of Common Prayer.
Leadership includes The Rev'd Sam Wilgus, rector, and The Rev'd Jacob Hootman, curate. Wilgus studied biblical and theological studies at Wheaton College and earned his Master of Divinity at Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Hootman attended North Central Texas College, the University of North Texas, and Nashotah House. He also serves on the Anglican Church in North America's Liturgy and Common Worship Task Force and worked on the 2019 Book of Common Prayer, Traditional Language Edition.
Three Sunday Communions at College Avenue
Sunday worship has three distinct Holy Communion services:
- 8:00 AM - Holy Communion in the Lady Chapel.
- 9:00 AM - Holy Communion with the Chancel Choir.
- 11:15 AM - Sung Holy Communion with the Chancel Choir.
The parish describes worship as the center of its identity and the heart of parish life, with service, learning, and fellowship growing from it. The 11:15 AM service is also the weekly livestream. On weekdays, Holy Communion is celebrated in the Lady Chapel at 7:30 AM on Wednesday and 6:00 PM on Saturday. Adult Christian Education classes meet between the 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM services throughout the school year. All services take place at 2401 College Avenue.
For families, an usher can direct visitors to two nursery areas. The nursery opens on Sunday mornings from 8:50 AM to 12:30 PM and is also available at other parish functions.
The Anglican Faith St. John's Holds
Saint John's is rooted in the biblical and historic faith of catholic Christianity, particularly as it is found in the Anglican Church and the Book of Common Prayer. Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher described the focus of the Anglican tradition by saying, “We have no doctrine of our own. We only possess the Catholic doctrine of the Catholic Church enshrined in the Catholic Creeds, and these creeds we hold without addition or diminution.”
The parish's stated Anglican commitments center on the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and final authority for Christian faith and life; Baptism and the Supper of the Lord as sacraments ordained by Christ; and the historic episcopate as part of apostolic faith and the unity of the Body of Christ. St. John's also receives the historic faith expressed in the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds.
Its doctrinal statement affirms the teaching of the first four ecumenical councils and the Christological clarifications of the fifth, sixth, and seventh insofar as they agree with Holy Scripture. The parish receives the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and Ordinal as a standard for Anglican doctrine, discipline, and worship, along with the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571 as an expression of Anglican belief.
The Atrium Is a Chapel for Children
St. John's uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children ages 3 to 12, covering preschool through sixth grade. All three atrium levels are open. Rather than a conventional classroom, the atrium is described as a chapel-like setting where children encounter God, connect the story of salvation with their own lives, and explore biblical and Anglican themes through age-appropriate materials.
The program was developed by Hebrew scholar and theologian Dr. Sofia Cavaletti and Montessori trainer Gianna Gobbi. It follows Montessori principles, introducing the Bible and the liturgy through hands-on materials. The adult catechist and child are described as co-learners who seek together the mystery of God and God's kingdom.
Younger children have two nursery spaces: one for infants and toddlers ages 0 to 2 and one for preschoolers ages 3 to 5. The dedicated nursery staff are coordinated by Katy Wilgus. Kristy Leaseburg directs the parish's children and youth ministries and also serves as Children's Ministry Coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.
Learning Across the Parish
Adult Christian Education classes are led by clergy and educated lay leaders between the two principal Sunday services. The parish also offers an annual confirmation class for adults in the fall, with the Bishop's Visitation, when confirmations normally take place, usually arriving in January.
St. John's Youth Group meets every Sunday for Catechism class and once a month for fellowship, food, and games. The regular formation and monthly gatherings connect study with the social life of the group. Fr. Jacob Hootman and Kristy Leaseburg share leadership of this ministry.
The Daily Office podcast provides Morning and Evening Prayer according to the 2019 Book of Common Prayer, using the one-year Daily Office lectionary and 60-day Psalter. Apple and Android apps and an online version support the practice of praying morning and evening with Scripture and the prayers of the church.
For adults seeking deeper study, St. Paul's House of Formation offers an online curriculum in Scripture, theology, liturgy, patristics, and church history. The weekly Word and Table podcast addresses liturgy, sacrament, and the Christian worship tradition. Suggested resources include the 2019 Book of Common Prayer, an Anglican catechism, English Spirituality, and St. Augustine's Prayer Book.
Choirs and Handbells Lead the Music
Under organist and choirmaster Karen Clark, the Chancel Choirs assist at the 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM services by singing hymns, service music, and anthems. Reading music is not required to participate, and rehearsals meet Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Clark trained at Westminster College and the Cleveland Institute of Music.
The Handbell Choir rehearses from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday evenings in the church and performs on special Sundays and holy days. Newcomers are welcome in the ensemble.
The Junior Choir is open to children from age 4 through eighth grade and sings occasionally at the 9:00 AM service. Besides voice training and basic music instruction, its young musicians can play instruments such as xylophone and glockenspiel while building friendships through music and fellowship. Diane Lange directs the Junior Choir.
Mission in Fort Worth and Beyond
St. John's connects its social ministry directly to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its stated goal is to live out Gospel values by helping build a just and loving society, pursuing holiness, turning souls toward God, and serving others with intentional, sacrificial love. The relationships formed through service ministries are central to that mission, and the parish supports a wide network of local, diocesan, and global ministries.
Families, Women, Shelter, and Home
The parish supports the Fort Worth Pregnancy Center, which offers information, support, and options beginning with free pregnancy testing for women facing unplanned pregnancies. St. John's partners with SafeHaven, which provides support, shelter, protection, and other needs to women and children affected by domestic abuse. The parish collects toys and Bibles for SafeHaven in December, hosts a sit-down Christmas dinner served by volunteer waitstaff, and helps provide activities including time with Santa.
Spring and summer bring a partnership with Trinity Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for families in Tarrant County. St. John's also partners with Iglesia San Miguel, a mission parish of the diocese, and its priest, Father Sergio Diaz.
Camp, School Supplies, and Global Relief
Camp Crucis, the diocese's summer camp and retreat center, serves children, teenagers, and adults with activities centered on spiritual growth, recreation, and interaction with God's creation. The center covers 140 wooded, rolling acres near Stroud's Creek in the lake country surrounding Granbury. Each August, St. John's gathers school supplies and money for Daggett Elementary School. The parish also supports Anglican Relief and Development Fund, the global arm of the Anglican Church in North America, through a September fund drive supporting disaster relief and people in particular need.
Hospital Families and Homeless Neighbors
At least once a year, parish volunteers serve dinner to families with critically ill children in Fort Worth hospitals through Ronald McDonald House. In winter and spring, St. John's collects clothing and food for Union Gospel Mission's homeless shelter. Parishioners also volunteer there to serve meals, play games, and watch movies with residents.
Livestream, Giving, and the Parish Office
The 11:15 AM Sunday service can be joined through the church's weekly livestream. Online giving is also available. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Its address is 2401 College Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76110; the phone number is 817-927-5341, and the office email is office@stjohnsfortworth.com.
At the center of St. John's life remains the pattern named in its motto: worshiping Almighty God, proclaiming the Gospel, and living Word, Sacrament, and Mission at 2401 College Avenue. Holy Communion and the 1662 Book of Common Prayer are joined by children's formation, adult education, choral music, and service that reaches families, schools, shelters, hospitals, camps, and communities in Fort Worth and beyond.