EXHIBITS

St. John's Episcopal Church: 150 Years of Service: Early History of the Episcopal Church in Utah: 1867-1873

Early History of the Episcopal Church in Utah: 1867–1873

The Episcopal Church comes to Utah

Bishop Daniel Tuttle of the Episcopal Church was chosen as the missionary bishop to Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana in 1867. The churches that he started include St. Mark's Cathedral and St. Paul's Chapel in Salt Lake, The Church of the Good Shepherd in Ogden, and St. John's in Logan. From the mission headquarters in Salt Lake City, Bishop Tuttle enacted several policies that lasted long after he left the territory regarding the way that he felt that missionary work among the Mormons (a historical name for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) ought to be accomplished.

This document, a report to the Missionary District of Utah and Idaho by Bishop Daniel Tuttle, recounts the history of the early years of his ministry and the efforts of the Episcopal community in Utah, Idaho, and Montana before 1883.

The Episcopal Church was the first non-Mormon religious group to attract a significant number of participants in the years following the arrival of Mormon pioneers in Utah.

Bishop Tuttle and subsequent Episcopalian leaders held the belief that despite a being difficult environment for missionary work, Utah was a place that they could make a difference. They did in several ways, including encouraging participation in local government and establishing schools that are still in operation today, such as Rowland Hall in Salt Lake City.

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One of the earliest goals that Bishop Tuttle had was to provide educational support to the children of Utah Territory.

On the work of education, Bishop Daniel Tuttle told the early diocese that:

“[T]he work of Christian education among the children gathered under the care of the various missions, and see in the results gained cheering and hopeful signs of the future usefulness of the Church to the people of this district. This is a feature of the work which the Committee conceive to be of the first importance for the future welfare of the people, and one which ought to be encouraged and advanced by every means in our power.

In this as in other branches of our missionary work, the timely work of our eastern brethren, in scholarships for poor children and other contributions, are gratefully acknowledged. Little could be done, especially in Utah, where the people are organized strongly under the prevailing heresy of Mormonism, without such aid. The work, however, wherever established and sustained, is showing a progress and success and probability of ultimate self-support, which ought to encourage the Church at large to give liberally, and to establish firmly the various missions already started within the district.”

-Episcopal Church of Utah, Proceedings of the Third Annual Convocation of the Missionary District of Montana, Idaho, and Utah. 1876. Special Collections and Archives, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University. 13-14.