John Johnson Sayrs (1774 – January 6, 1809) was an American

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clergyman who served as

Chaplain of the Senate The chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for senators, their staffs, and their families. The chaplain is appoi ...

Early years

John Johnson Sayrs was born in 1774 in

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, the son of Caleb Sayrs and his wife Sarah Johnson. Sayrs graduated from the College of New Jersey (

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...

) in 1792.

Ministry

On January 5, 1795, Sayrs became minister of Trinity Church,

Fishkill, New York Fishkill is a village within the town of Fishkill in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The village is in the eastern part of the town of Fishkill on U.S. Route 9. It is north of Interstate 84. NY 52 is the main street. It is part of ...

, and Christ Church,

Poughkeepsie, New York Poughkeepsie ( ) is a city within the Poughkeepsie (town), New York, Town of Poughkeepsie, New York (state), New York. It is the county seat of Dutchess County, New York, Dutchess County, with a 2020 census population of 31,577. Poughkeepsie i ...

. On January 14, 1799, he became rector of Durham Parish, Charles County, Maryland; there he also operated a flourishing school. In 1804 he became the first rector of St. John’s Parish,

Georgetown, D.C. Georgetown is a historic Neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., neighborhood and commercial district in Northwest (Washington, D.C.), Northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751 as part of the Colonial history of th ...

, a post in which he continued until his early death at age 36 in 1809. His body was buried beneath the chancel of the church, which was designed by

William Thornton William Thornton (May 20, 1759 – March 28, 1828) was an American physician, inventor, painter and architect who designed the United States Capitol. He also served as the first Architect of the Capitol and first Superintendent of the United Sta ...

, architect of the Capitol. In 1806-1807 he served as

Francis Scott Key Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer, author, and poet from Frederick, Maryland, best known as the author of the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry" which was set to a popular British tune and eventually became t ...

was a friend and vestryman of his congregation. Key penned Sayrs’ epitaph which appears on a tablet in St. John’s Church.

Personal life

Sayrs married Sophia Sprake (sometimes, spelled ‘’Speake’’) during his time at Durham Parish. They were the parents of two sons, one of whom died unmarried, the other, John Johnson Sayrs, Jr.The Correspondence of John Henry Hobart, by John Henry Hobart, p. 19

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sayrs, John Johnson 1774 births 1809 deaths Chaplains of the United States Senate Clergy from Newark, New Jersey Princeton University alumni 18th-century American Episcopal priests