Avon-By-The-Sea History

St. John’s Church began in 1883 as a simple summer chapel, created to serve children and families who came here during the warm months.

Before the church stood on this site, it first met in a tent nearby. Later, land was donated on Woodland Avenue so a permanent chapel could be built. From the beginning, it was meant to be a welcoming place, open to seasonal visitors and local families alike.

Over the years, the church grew. It was expanded in the early 1900s, a rectory was purchased for visiting priests, and generations of one family helped care for it and keep it going.

Because there is no heat, it still operates as a summer chapel, just as it was originally intended. Its doors are often left open for prayer, quiet reflection, and community gatherings.

More than a century later, St. John’s remains a peaceful reminder of faith, family, and the traditions that continue to shape this seaside community.