Welcome to St. John's Church, Lafayette Square—a vibrant historic Episcopal church located across from the White House. We invite you to join with us for worship, Christian fellowship and outreach.
History
From our organization as a parish in 1815 to today, St. John's Church has provided a powerful symbol of faith in the heart of our nation's capital.
At St. John's, we believe Christ is calling us to be a renewed church in a changing world. In worship, education, parish life, and social action, we seek to expand our horizons by serving God by loving one another.
Located at the corner of 16th and H Streets in Northwest Washington, St. John's is near the McPherson Square and Farragut North Metro stations. Limited street parking is available; free valet parking is offered for certain hours.
The Parish House adjacent to the church at 1525 H Street, N.W. was built in 1836. It is a National Historic Landmark. It was the residence in 1842 of Alexander Baring, Lord Ashburton, who negotiated a treaty that year with U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster. This treaty established the final boundaries between Canada and the United States from Maine to Minnesota, and helped avert a possible war between Great Britain and the United States. The building, also known as Ashburton House, later served for a period, prior to the Civil War, as the site of the British Legation to the U.S.