About St. John · Lyons Falls, New York
St. John's Church in Lyons Falls, New York is one of four missions that make up the Catholic Parishes of Southern Lewis County, a clustered pastoral community in the Diocese of Ogdensburg that also includes St. Martin's in Port Leyden, St. Mary's in Constableville, and St. Mary's Nativity in West Leyden. The Gothic-style brick church sits on McAlpine Street in the village of Lyons Falls and offers one weekend Mass on Saturday evenings, with weekday Masses rotating among the sister parishes. The community is served by retired pastor Rev. Daniel L. Chapin, assisted by Deacons James W. Chaufty and Michael A. Lieber, Jr. From its founding in 1909–1910 through today, St. John's has remained a small but enduring Catholic presence in this rural stretch of Lewis County, sustained by the devotion of Lyons Falls' Catholic families across more than a century.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. John
- Rector
- Reverend Daniel L. Chapin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. John's offers a quiet, historic, family-sized Catholic community in the heart of Lewis County, where worshippers know one another and Mass is celebrated in a century-old Gothic brick church set on a hill above McAlpine Street. As one of four clustered parishes under a single pastor, it pairs small-town intimacy with the wider sacramental life of the Catholic Parishes of Southern Lewis County — Confession before Mass or by appointment, a Saturday-evening Mass, and shared devotions and fellowship across Lyons Falls, Port Leyden, Constableville, and West Leyden. For Catholics in the southern Lewis County backcountry, it's a warm, rooted place to worship that has welcomed generations since 1910.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays prior to the 6:00 pm Mass at St. John's, Lyons Falls
- Or by appointment
History of St. John's Church, Lyons Falls
Long before the church existed, Lyons Falls' Catholics had to travel three miles by foot, horse, or carriage to Port Leyden to attend Mass. In the early 1900s, monthly Mass was celebrated in village halls using an improvised altar of planks laid across two sugar barrels, tended by Mrs. Ed Ryan and Mrs. John Cronin. Under Reverend John Dean's leadership, the community raised funds through bazaars, fairs, suppers, dances, card parties, and an enormously popular Fourth of July picnic at Riverside Park. A site was chosen at the crest of the hill south of the school on McAlpine Street, where blasting was required before the foundation could be laid in July 1909. The Gothic-style brick-and-limestone church, with its leaded stained-glass windows funded by a diamond-ring raffle won by Julia Collins House, was dedicated in 1910 by Bishop Gabriels.
- Early Masses held monthly at Shaw & Ryan Hall, Gaffney Opera House, and Burkhart Opera House
- Improvised altar: planks over two sugar barrels, veiled with Mrs. Ryan's parlor lace curtain
- Fundraising included annual Fourth of July picnics at Riverside Park on Laura Street
- Site selected at the crest of the hill south of the school on McAlpine Street
- Foundation laid July 1909; dedicated 1910 by Bishop Gabriels
- Contest for stained-glass windows; diamond-ring prize won by Julia Collins House (per Mary Teal article)
Catholic Parishes of Southern Lewis County
St. John's is one of four historically distinct parishes now served as a single cluster under one pastor, owing to the area's shortage of priests. Together with St. Martin's in Port Leyden, St. Mary's in Constableville, and St. Mary's Nativity in West Leyden, St. John's forms the Catholic Parishes of Southern Lewis County, sharing a phone number, mailing address (P.O. Box 431, Port Leyden, NY 13433), email, and website. Each parish hosts one weekend Mass, and weekday Masses alternate between St. Mary's and St. Martin's. Additional Masses and Communion Services are offered during Lent.
- St. John's Church — 5838 McAlpine Street, Lyons Falls
- St. Martin's — 7108 North Street, Port Leyden
- St. Mary's — 5905 James Street, Constableville
- St. Mary's Nativity — 1183 State Route 26, West Leyden
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 431, Port Leyden, NY 13433
- Phone: (315) 348-6104
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: catholicparishesofslc.weebly.com
Clergy and Staff
The cluster is led by a retired priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, supported by two permanent deacons. Father Daniel L. Chapin was appointed pastor effective July 26, 2023, succeeding Father Lawrence E. Marullo. Father Chapin was ordained on May 13, 1972 by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana in St. Mary's Cathedral, Ogdensburg, and has served across the diocese and abroad, including a decade in the Diocese of Ogdensburg's Peruvian Apostolate.
- Reverend Daniel L. Chapin — Pastor (since July 26, 2023)
- Deacon James W. Chaufty
- Deacon Michael A. Lieber, Jr.
- Predecessor: Rev. Lawrence E. Marullo (retired effective July 26, 2023)
Parish Life, Fellowship, and Outreach
St. John's Church Hall is a hub for community gatherings in southern Lewis County, including pancake brunches and other events hosted by the South Lewis Knights of Columbus. The cluster also participates in diocesan and community initiatives such as the annual March for Life bus trip coordinated from Port Leyden and ecumenical activities across the North Country. Offerings to any of the four parishes can be made through the shared 'Church offering' link on the parish website, or mailed to the Port Leyden post office box, with a note indicating which parish the gift should support.
- South Lewis Knights of Columbus — pancake brunches at St. John's Church Hall
- Lewis County Right to Life — parish collaboration
- March for Life bus trip — departs from Port Leyden
- Diocesan ecumenical activities
- Online giving via the parish website 'Church offering' link
- Mail-in offerings: P.O. Box 431, Port Leyden, NY 13433 (note parish designation)
Architecture and Building
St. John's is a small Gothic-style church built in 1909–1910, constructed of brick with limestone trimming. Its leaded stained-glass windows were a community achievement, funded in part by a contest in which the diamond-ring prize was won by Julia Collins House. The church sits dramatically on a hilltop site at the crest of McAlpine Street, a location that required substantial blasting before the foundation could be laid in July 1909.
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Materials: brick with limestone trim
- Leaded stained-glass windows
- Hilltop site at the crest of McAlpine Street
- Construction: foundation begun July 1909; dedicated 1910
Visiting St. John's
St. John's is located at 5838 McAlpine Street in the village of Lyons Falls, Lewis County, New York. Visitors traveling from NY Route 12 should turn at Stewart's into Lyons Falls, then turn right one block. Parking is available on site. For current Mass times, sacramental needs, or to schedule Confession, parishioners and visitors are invited to call (315) 348-6104 or email [email protected].
- Street address: 5838 McAlpine Street, Lyons Falls, NY 13368
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 431, Port Leyden, NY 13433
- From Route 12: turn at Stewart's into Lyons Falls, then right one block
- Phone: (315) 348-6104
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: catholicparishesofslc.weebly.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend John Dean
Led the early-1900s campaign to build St. John's in Lyons Falls; oversaw fundraising, site selection, and groundbreaking in July 1909.
- Reverend Lawrence E. Marullo
Predecessor pastor of the Southern Lewis County cluster (St. Mary's Constableville, St. Martin's Port Leyden, St. John's Lyons Falls, St. Mary's Nativity West Leyden); retired effective July 26, 2023.
- Reverend Daniel L. Chapin2023–present
Retired priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, born in Malone; ordained May 13, 1972 by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana in St. Mary's Cathedral, Ogdensburg. Past service included the Peruvian Apostolate, cathedral parish, Holy Family in Watertown, and St. Stephen's in Croghan. Appointed pastor of the four Southern Lewis County parishes effective July 26, 2023.