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St. John’s, Fallbrook
The Church on the Hill
Prepared by Jarvis Nolan, Historiographer
Built on a steep hill in 1891
St. John’s, Fallbrook became the 8th oldest church in the diocese. There were years the church was inactive and years they shared clergy with Trinity, Escondido. One of them was The Rev. Robert Burton Gooden who became suffragan bishop of Los Angeles. The old property was sold in 1954 and a new church was built on Iowa St., dedicated in January 1956. Both Bishop Bloy and Gooden attended the event and the choir from Trinity assisted the choir of St. John’s.
A familiar sight around Fallbrook in the 1960’s was Deaconess Mary Dawson. In her navy blue habit with wide white collar, she called on those in the community that needed help. She had been a missionary in the pacific for thirty-eight years and on a bus tour through Fallbrook, fell in love with it and retired here. One of the lasting things she did was to start a prayer group which turned in to what is today the 10:00 Thursday Eucharist.
In 1972 the Rev. David H. Fenton arrived as the last vicar and the first rector. Fenton remained at St. John’s for 24 years. He is known throughout the church as the editor of the Liturgical Desk Calendar. In 1973 St. John’s was one of the first to celebrate the Great Easter Vigil six years before it was incorporated into the Book of Common Prayer. That same year, on December 7, 1972, they were admitted as a parish at the first convention of the Diocese of San Diego. Along with All Saints, Vista, the two churches sponsored a Vietnamese family in 1975 providing assistance until the family became self-suffient.
In 1983 the church went through a major remodeling under architect/contractor Philip Esbensen. The stained glass was designed by J. William Rundstrom, depicting events in Jesus life from St. John’s Gospel The sanctuary furnishings, ambo, font and altar were designed by Martin Zschoche. At the hour of 10:00 July 10, 1983, to the sound of the new bell in the tower, Bishop Morton said “Let the doors be opened.” The church filed in to the sound of the new pipe organ the first in Fallbrook.
In May of 2005 the Rev. Donald Kroeger, rector, decided to lead the way in Fallbrook by starting an Adopt-a-Block program, an after school program for young people ages 5 – 14. The purpose is to defeat the onset of type 2 diabetes. They meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 – 5. Soccer and dancing are examples of the activities of the program and non-sugar snacks are served. “The children are hanging on the gate waiting to get in” said Sheila Risser, the program director and a member of St. John’s for 11 years. “We have trouble getting them to leave at 5:00” she also said.
At Christmas St. John’s also has an “adopt-a-family” program providing gifts and food for those in need. They also have an overseas outreach program whereby they support a young boy living in South Africa by paying for his boarding school education away from his detrimental home environment.
Within a short time, St. John’s will once again be on a hill. On the vacant lot on the corner of Fallbrook Street and Stage Coach Lane stands a sign that reads “future home of St. John’s Episcopal Church”.