Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Roman Catholic cathedral in Savannah, Georgia, United States
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral and minor basilica near Lafayette Square in Savannah, Georgia. Its white Gothic Revival facade has two tall spires topped with gold crosses, pointed arches, a central rose window, and three pointed-arch doorways. The building was constructed of brick and later coated with stucco and whitewash.
French Catholic refugees from Haiti formed Savannah's congregation around 1796 and built the first St. John the Baptist Church in 1799. Bishop Ignatius Persico began planning the present cathedral in 1870; its cornerstone was laid in 1873 and it was dedicated in 1876. A fire on February 6, 1898, destroyed the interior, and the rebuilt church was rededicated in 1900.
The name honors John the Baptist, chosen by early French settlers from the Caribbean. On Sundays, parish members gather for communal prayer in the wooden pews beneath the soaring vaulted ceilings.
The building stands near Lafayette Square on East Harris Street and opens its doors to visitors during daytime hours. Guided tours are available, with quiet behavior expected during ongoing services.
The 1898 fire left only the walls and towers standing; the interior was rebuilt and Christmas Mass was held in 1899, though decoration took 13 more years. In 2012, cracks in the steeples were traced to the 2011 Virginia earthquake, and repairs cost $15 million.
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