St. John's Episcopal Church (Washington, D.C.) | christianity, Episcopal Church, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, Greek Revival (architecture), 1810s construction, U.S. National Historic Landmark

 church, christianity, Episcopal Church, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, Greek Revival (architecture), 1810s construction, U.S. National Historic Landmark

St. John's, Lafayette Square was founded in 1815, during James Madison's administration to be a parish church to serve the White House and the immediate neighborhood.

The church, often called the "Church of the Presidents" was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, a prominent early American architect, and has been visited by every US President since then.

Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were regular attendees, and President Obama has attended a few times.

A pew is always reserved for the President, and a pew at the right rear portion of the sanctuary has been named the Lincoln Pew. Lincoln would slip out of the White House for Wednesday evening services alone, enter after the service began, sit in the same pew, and then leave before the end of the service.

President Chester Arthur commissioned one of the largest stained glass windows in the church and dedicated it to the memory of his wife.

The orginaly block-shaped chapel designed by Latrobe, has been added on to several times so that the church now has a classic cruciform shape and an extensive balcony.

An outdoor columbarium is located alongside the shaded north exterior wall of the church.

1525 H St NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-8766‎
www.stjohns-dc.org