The church opened on the tenth Sunday after Trinity, in early August, 1885, named St. John the Evangelist in honor of the Cowley fathers.

An article in The Church Standard, dated 19 August 1885 noted, "At that time the windows had yet to be installed, the lathing and plastering were incomplete."

[4] The new church met not only a spiritual need in the area but also provided a selling point for local hoteliers.

The house has been entirely rebuilt and refurbished: many improvements made; large, airy bedrooms; more parlors, etc.

The house stands +2000 feet above tide-water and commands a charming view from the piazza of the adjacent mountains and sunset in the Gap.

The abundant table and well-known home-like character of the house have always brought to it the best class of travellers.

He married his brother to Florence, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Hemsley, at St. John the Evangelist on 19 November 1889, the first wedding celebrated there.

[4] The cool summers of the Catskill mountains attracted wealthy, middle-class vacationers from New York, Philadelphia and other lowland towns and cities.