History of the Parish

Saint John the Evangelist was founded as a mission of St. Peter's Church, on Barclay Street, in New York City, in 1820.  In 1837, St. John's was named a parish and the first Church was built on St. John Street in the village of Goshen.

 Our beautiful Gothic Church and Convent was built on Murray Avenue and dedicated in 1885.  Our convent was the first rectory and later became both the residence for the Sisters of Charity and our first elementary and high school.  Our schools were the first Catholic Schools in Orange County.  In 1904, a new school was built through the generosity of Catherine Garr, at the corner of Murray Avenue and Erie Street and named Garr Institute.  Our present school was built in 1955 and the second story added in 1960.  Our high school became John S. Burke Catholic School in 1963. 

A quote from the book St. John the Evangelist - A House of Worship in Goshen, N.Y. published in 1962, speaking of the parishioners who labored and sacrificed to build our present Church and Convent over 125 years ago, still is indicative of the good people of St. John's today.  "The people of St. John's have not been slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, and their handsome edifice will long stand as a monument of their industry and perseverance born of a living faith."