Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Twin Spires

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Twin Spires

Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

A stop on Savannah, a free self-guided tour.

Rising over Lafayette Square are the twin spires of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah. Catholics were not allowed to settle in the Georgia colony at first, but a parish formed here after the American Revolution, and the congregation grew strong enough to begin this French Gothic cathedral in 1873. It was dedicated in 1876.

In 1898 a fire gutted the building, leaving little more than the outer walls and spires. The congregation rebuilt within about a year. Over the following decades it added the rich murals and stained glass you see inside, including dozens of windows.

In 2020 the Pope named it a minor basilica. If the doors are open and no service is underway, step in to see the color and light. Then look back at Lafayette Square, named for the French general who visited Savannah in 1825.

Getting here: Walk east along Harris Street two blocks to Abercorn Street. The cathedral stands on the far side of Lafayette Square.

Did you know?: The cathedral has 81 stained glass windows and its spires rise about 214 feet, making them a landmark from much of downtown.

Photo op: Stand in the southwest corner of Lafayette Square and frame both spires above the fountain and trees.

More on Wikipedia: Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist · Lafayette Square · Diocese of Savannah

Stops on this tour

  1. Johnson Square - Where the Plan Began
  2. River Street and Factors Walk - Built on Cotton
  3. City Market and Ellis Square - A Square Won Back
  4. First African Baptist Church - A Congregation's Own Bricks
  5. Wright Square - Tomochichi's Resting Place
  6. Owens-Thomas House - Regency Mansion and Slave Quarters
  7. Chippewa Square - Oglethorpe Stands Guard
  8. Madison Square - Battle Lines and a Christmas Gift
  9. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Twin Spires
  10. Taylor Square - A New Name for an Old Square
  11. Monterey Square - Pulaski and the Mercer House
  12. Forsyth Park Fountain - The Grand Finale