St. John’s Episcopal Church 🇺🇸

If you are exploring Montgomery, Alabama, step into history at St. John's Episcopal Church, a notable historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. Designed by the New York City architectural firm of Frank Wills and Henry Dudley, this impressive Gothic Revival structure was completed in 1855 facing Madison Street. As you visit, you will encounter a sanctuary shaped by significant moments in American history.

Organized in 1834, the parish grew rapidly, leading to the construction of this building and later expansions in 1869—using bricks from its original 1830s sanctuary—and 1906. While visiting, reflect on its complex past: the church hosted the 1861 Secession Convention of Southern Churches, was attended by Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and was temporarily forced to close under Union Army orders in 1865. It also welcomed Army recruits during World War I from nearby Camp Sheridan before the 1918 flu pandemic forced another brief closure. The church was also shaped by former rector Edgar Gardner Murphy, who led early efforts against child labor.

Beautifully renovated in the 1950s and 2006, St. John's offers a deep, honest look into regional architectural and political history.

What to see at St. John's Episcopal Church

• Historic Gothic Revival architecture designed by Frank Wills and Henry Dudley
• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975
• Site of the 1861 Secession Convention of Southern Churches
• Expansions built using salvaged bricks from the original 1830s sanctuary

Visiting tips

Keep in mind that historical artifacts like the 1925 Jefferson Davis plaque and 1931 pew were relocated by the vestry in 2019 from the sanctuary to the parish archives.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

St. John's Episcopal Church is easy to reach on Montgomery’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and The National Memorial to Peace and Justice. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Montgomery travel guide.