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. White1845–1853
George H. Clark1853–1861
Cameron Farquhar McRae1862–1867
Samuel Benedict1867–1877
Charles Hall Strong1878–1914
William T. Dakin1914–1923
William Aimison Jonnard1924–1929
Charles C. J. Carpenter1929–1936
Ernest Risley1936–1965
Paul W. Pritchartt1970–1973
William H. Ralston, Jr.1974–1998
Michael L. Carreker1998–2006
Gavin G. Dunbar2006–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. 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.