| St. John the Baptist | |
| Cathedral of St. John the Baptist | |
|---|---|
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
|
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| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.savannahcathedral.org |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah |
| Clergy | |
| Rector | Rev. Monsignor William O. O’Neill, V.F. |
| Priest(s) | Rev. Christopher Ortega, Rev. Daniel F. Firmin |
| Deacon | Rev. Mr. Dewain E. Smith |
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral at 222 East Harris Street, Savannah, Georgia, in the United States. It is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.
The colonial charter of Savannah prohibited Roman Catholics from settling in Savannah. The English Trustees feared that Roman Catholics would be more loyal to the Spanish in Florida than the English. This prohibition faded shortly after the American Revolutionary War and this congregation was reoganized around 1796. French Catholic emigres established the first church in 1799 fleeing from Haiti after an uprising and fleeing the French Revolution.A second church was dedicated in 1839 due to the increase in population of Savannah Catholics. Construction began on the new Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in 1873 and was completed by the addition of the spires in 1896. It was almost totally destroyed by fire in 1898 and through diligent effort was rebuilt by 1899. Today the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah includes 90 counties in Mid and Southern Georgia, including cities such as Columbus and Macon.[1]