Visiting Presidential Churches Part II: St. John’s Episcopal

My first visit on a tour of Washington’s presidential tours had to begin at St. John’s Episcopal Church, across Lafayette Square from the White House, and known as the “Church of the Presidents.”

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Every president has attended since James Madison, who was there after its 1816 consecration when the nearby White House was still in ruins from the 1814 British attack.   President Obama and his family were there last Sunday.

Being where it is, of course many famous people have attended there besides presidents, including (according to a recent history of the church by Richard Grimmett) Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Admiral George Dewey, First Lady Dolly Madison (she lived almost next door as a widow and her funeral was here), General George McClellan (he lived in Dolly’s former house during the Civil War), General Winfield Scott, Confederate General Joseph Johnston before and after the Civil War (his funeral was here), First Lady Helen Taft (her Unitarian husband attended elsewhere), and much of Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet, including Salmon Chase, William Seward, Francis Blair and Gideon Welles.  Togo West of the Clinton Administration is prominent there.   And I’m told that FBI Director Robert Mueller regularly attends.

Today on a quick visit St. John’s friendly new associate pastor gave me a copy of the history and a brief tour of the church and the parish house next door, which was built in 1836 and later housed Britain’s minister to America.  She formerly had pastored in suburban Maryland and is enthusiastic about St. John’s ministry.

(I nearly got run over taking this picture of St. John’s with the White House in view.)

Last Sunday the Obamas walked across Lafayette Square for worship at St. John’s, having attended several times before over the last 3 years.  Another associate pastor gave the sermon, which condemned violence and extolled “Christ’s message of self-surrender.”  The Obamas took communion and motorcaded home, which no doubt the Secret Service prefers.  They do not regularly worship at any D.C. church but reportedly are regular at Camp David’s chapel.

(Kneelers honor each president)

Presidents George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford, as Episcopalians, were regulars at St. John’s.  There is a pew plaque declaring “Given to the Glory of God by President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush.

FDR was also a lifelong Episcopalian and attended many times though not always, privately explaining he didn’t like worshipping in front of gawkers, which he likened to a zoo.  It was he who in 1933 began the tradition of worship at St. John’s on the morning of presidential inaugurations.

(President George W. Bush inside St. John’s)

Lincoln was brought to St. John’s as president elect by his secretary of state designate William Seward.  Thereafter Lincoln, who more routinely attended a Presbyterian church, would sit in a back pew by himself for evening services and slip away quietly before the worship ended.

(Lincoln’s pew)

The church was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, architect of the U.S. Capitol under Thomas Jefferson.  Originally built in the shape of a Greek cross, Latrobe exclaimed of it:  “St. John’s Church, which I have built, is a pretty thing, and has a celebrity beyond all bounds.  It has made people religious who were never before at Church.”

(St. John’s Episcopal Church in 1816, with ruined White House in background)

The current rector of St. John’s for 17 years is Cuban born Luis Leon.  The church’s website doesn’t mention controversial political or social issues, and Rev. Leon seems to have carefully managed his role as pastor of the Church of the Presidents. Other historic presidential churches are more controversial, perhaps including the one I will visit next week!
You can read Part 1 of this series here.