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Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings

	ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH District of Columbia
Corner of 16th and H Streets NW., Washington. Travel Itinerary St. John's Episcopal Church

Ownership and Administration. St. John's Parish.

Significance. This "Church of Presidents," across from Lafayette Square, is an excellent example of the Federal style of architecture and was the first building after the White House to be built opposite the square. It is today among the few surviving Federal-period structures around the square, which also include the White House, Decatur House, Dolley Madison House, and the Benjamin Ogle Tayloe House.

The distinguished architect Benjamin H. Latrobe designed St. John's, constructed in 1815-16, in the form of a Greek cross. A lantern cupola sitting above a flat dome dominated the gabled roofline, which towered above the high sidewalls. The transepts had four massive pillars at their intersection. Surrounding the interior was a graceful circular gallery, which had a railing and was supported by columns. The aisles were of brick and the pews high-backed. Within the chancel was a communion table, above which was a movable wine-glass pulpit, reached by a spiral staircase. Four years after completion of the church, workmen erected a major addition on the west side, fronted by a Doric-columned portico which became the new main entrance, and above which rose a high steeple. New flat-roofed vestibules, just behind and lower than the portico, created the form of a Latin instead of a Greek cross. In 1842 church officials replaced the old pews and subsequently made other minor modifications, but over the course of the years restored many original features.

From the time of the opening of the church, church officials reserved one pew for the President. Madison chose Number 28, later redesignated Number 54, and the next five successive Presidents—Monroe, Adams, Jackson, Van Buren, and Harrison—occupied the pew. Since then, by tradition, pew 54 has been set aside for the President. Recent Presidents who have attended services in the church include Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

St. John's Episcopal Church, one of the first buildings on Lafayette Square, is known as the "Church of Presidents." Since its construction, in 1815-16, a pew has been reserved for the President.

Present Appearance. St. John's Church, in fine condition today, is still an active parish church and is open to the public. The basic structure is much the same as at the time of the original construction and subsequent major enlargement. Twenty-seven handsome memorial windows adorn the building. Many of the Presidents have autographed an 18th-century prayerbook, placed in the President's pew. A silver chalice donated by John Tayloe, builder of the Octagon House, and a solid gold communion chalice, encrusted with jewels, are among many notable treasures of the church.

NHL Designation: 12/19/60