Savannah, Georgia, United States
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
A French Gothic cathedral on Lafayette Square in Savannah, Georgia, known for its Austrian stained glass and its deep roots in the oldest Catholic community in Georgia.
Lafayette Square is quiet most mornings — oaks and Spanish moss, a few dog walkers, the cathedral's twin spires rising above the trees. Catholics have been here since 1799, when French colonists fleeing the Haitian Revolution settled in Savannah and asked for a priest. The current building, completed in 1896, is French Gothic in pale brick with spires that reach 200 feet. A fire in 1898 gutted the interior just two years after it opened, and the parish rebuilt from the smoke-blackened walls. The stained glass, installed after the fire, was made by the Innsbruck Glassmalerei in Austria, and it is among the finest in the American South — fifty windows in deep blues, reds, and golds that light up the nave throughout the day. The marble altar is Italian. The Stations of the Cross are painted in the Bavarian style. The whole interior reflects the European origins of the parish while sitting in the most Southern of Southern cities. On Sundays the cathedral fills with families who have been coming for generations alongside newcomers drawn by the beauty of the building and the warmth of the parish.
Diocese: Diocese of Savannah
Style: French Gothic Revival
What to See
The stained glass is the reason to come slowly and stay long. The rose window above the entrance is especially fine, and the clerestory windows catch changing light throughout the day — morning is best for the east side, afternoon for the west. The marble altar and its reredos are detailed and worth close inspection. The Stations of the Cross are painted panels in a Bavarian folk style that is unusual for an American church. The baptismal font near the entrance is carved from a single block of marble. The pipe organ, a rebuilt Noack, is one of the best in the Southeast and is featured in regular concerts. Step outside to Lafayette Square afterward — it is one of Savannah's most beautiful public spaces.
Pilgrim Notes
The cathedral is at 222 East Harris Street on Lafayette Square in Savannah's historic district. It is walkable from most downtown hotels and inns. Mass is celebrated daily, with Sunday Masses that can be standing-room-only during tourist season. The cathedral is open for self-guided visits; a printed guide is available in the narthex. Guided tours are offered on select days. No admission fee, but donations support the ongoing maintenance of the stained glass. Savannah is hot and humid from May through September — the cathedral interior is air-conditioned. The feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24 is celebrated with particular solemnity. Parking in the historic district is limited; use metered street parking or nearby garages.