St. John's Church (Savannah, Georgia)
St. John's Church in Savannah is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.
| Stephen Elliott, Jr. | 1841–1845 |
| Rufus M. White | 1845–1853 |
| George H. Clark | 1853–1861 |
| Cameron Farquhar McRae | 1862–1867 |
| Samuel Benedict | 1867–1877 |
| Charles Hall Strong | 1878–1914 |
| William T. Dakin | 1914–1923 |
| William Aimison Jonnard | 1924–1929 |
| Charles C. J. Carpenter | 1929–1936 |
| Ernest Risley | 1936–1965 |
| Paul W. Pritchartt | 1970–1973 |
| William H. Ralston, Jr. | 1974–1998 |
| Michael L. Carreker | 1998–2006 |
| Gavin G. Dunbar | 2006–present |
The church was formed in 1841 from the growing Christ Church, Savannah, as part of a plan to increase Episcopal presence in Georgia and to provide for a first bishop of the diocese. In addition to his Episcopal duties, the bishop would be rector of both St. John's and Christ Church. Stephen Elliott, Jr. was consecrated as Bishop of Georgia in February 1841.
St. John's first building was consecrated in 1843. When the congregation outgrew this building, the construction was undertaken of the current building (which is situated across from the historic Green-Meldrim House - now the church's parish house). The building was designed by Calvin N. Otis of Buffalo, NY, and was consecrated in May 1853.
The Parish continues to use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, as the basis for worship. St. John's maintains a cordial relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, although the character of the congregation is more traditional than most of the parishes in The Episcopal Church (TEC).
Further reading
- Linton Weeks. St. John's Church in Savannah. 1985.