John W. Gains

The Right Reverend Father John W. Gains, 87, of Georgetown, Delaware, passed peacefully at home on March 7, 2026. Born on October 25, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Earl and Margaret Gains, he lived a life defined by faith, service, and quiet devotion. A sailor, tradesman, and builder of community, he was above all a man of God whose steadfast presence touched many.

Father John grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from West Chester High School. On November 19, 1958, he married Mary Catherine Kennedy in Cook County, Illinois, beginning a union that remained the anchor of his life for decades. He served his country in the United States Navy in Naval Intelligence, an experience that instilled in him discipline and purpose. He remained deeply connected to his fellow veterans as a lifetime member of American Legion Post 0019 and a life member of VFW Post 7447.

Later, he pursued a vocation that would define his legacy. After earning a doctorate, he was ordained as an Anglican bishop. What began as Sunday services in his living room grew into the Anglican Parish of St. James in Georgetown, Delaware, a congregation that has served for more than 25 years using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. His pastoral care was tireless. Even in his final weeks, he greeted every call with the words, “Father John, how can I help you?” He sat through the night with grieving families, supported mission work in India, and offered steady comfort and guidance to all who sought him.

To his grandchildren Douglas and Jaclyn, he was affectionately known as Papa John or PPJ. They remember the man who preferred back roads, taught them to fish, made hearty soups, and dominated family Trivial Pursuit nights. His friends knew him as a thoughtful, generous listener who could always be counted on. Father John is survived by his sister, Sarah A. Macomber of McAllen, Texas; his grandchildren, Douglas J. Davidson of Quinby, Virginia, and Jaclyn M. (Joshua) Griffin of Delmar, Maryland; and his beloved great-granddaughter, Jaina Griffin. He also leaves behind the congregation of the Anglican Parish of St. James and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Catherine Gains; his sons, John Michael and Joseph Matthew Gains; his daughter, Janet Davidson; and other loved ones.