St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square (Washington, D.C.)

Infobox_nrhp | name =St. John's Episcopal Church
Lafayette Square
16th and H streets, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
nrhp_type =nhl


caption =
location= 1525 H Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C.
lat_degrees = 38
lat_minutes = 54
lat_seconds = 1
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 77
long_minutes = 2
long_seconds = 7
long_direction = W
locmapin= District of Columbia
area =
built =1815-1816
designated=December 19, 1960
added =October 15, 1966
governing_body = St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square
mpsub=
refnum=66000868 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, is an historic Episcopal church located at 16th and H Streets, NW, in Washington, D.C. It is near Lafayette Square and the White House.

Beginning with James Madison, every president has at least been an occasional attendee, giving this church its nickname, "Church of the Presidents." The 54th pew is the President's Pew, and is reserved for the chief executive's use when in attendance.

Organized as a parish in 1815, it was named for Saint John, the Evangelist. The first service was held at St. John's Church in October 1816. It was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, designer of the U.S. Capitol Building, and is constructed of stucco-covered brick, taking the form of a Greek cross. In 1820, the portico and tower were added. [cite book |title=Washington, City and Capital: Federal Writers' Project |publisher=Works Progress Administration / Government Printing Office |author=Federal Writers' Project |year=1937 |pages=p. 126]

In 1902, the formal state funeral of British ambassador Lord Pauncefote took place in St. John's Church.

Artwork in the church includes two sculptures by Jay Hall Carpenter, a chapel cross in polished brass, and "Ascent Into Heaven", a 3/4 lifesize bronze angel and child overlooking the church's columbarium.

In 1966, St. John's Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

National Register listing

*St. John's Church *** (added 1966 - Building - #66000868)
*Also known as St. John's Church (Episcopal)
*16th and H Sts., NW, Washington
*Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
*Architect, builder, or engineer: Et al., Labrobe,Benjamin H.
*Architectural Style: Federal
*Area of Significance: Architecture, Politics/Government
*Period of Significance: 1800-1824
*Owner: Private
*Historic Function: Religion
*Historic Sub-function: Religious Structure
*Current Function: Religion
*Current Sub-function: Religious Structure

References

External links

* [http://www.stjohns-dc.org/ St. John's Episcopal Church Website]
* [http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc28.htm Washington, D.C., A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary - St. John's Church]
* [http://JayHallCarpenter.com Sculptor Jay Hall Carpenter's Website]