The parish of St John the Evangelist, of South Scranton, was organized in 1886, and since then a new church, convent, parochial school, and parish house have been built at an expenditure of $200,000, now all free from debt. Rev R A McAndrew, appointed by Rt Rev Bishop O'Hara, remained in the parish two years and began this work. He was then sent to Wilkes-Barre to succeed Rev Father Horn and his place in Scranton was taken by Rev Father E J Melley, who was transferred here from St Patrick's parish at Olyphant, and here he still remains. Since then the parish has been developed, as noted above, the major part of the work having been done under the direction of Rev Father Melley.