About our cathedral

View from the Bishop's Garden at St. John's Cathedral.

An aerial view of St. John's

St. John’s Cathedral is home to a vibrant and diverse congregation in downtown Jacksonville, which gathers for worship and then is sent forth to love and serve the Lord. We trace our heritage to the first Anglican services in Florida which took place onthe banks of the St. John’s River in 1829. The first services on Billy Goat Hill,which remains our physical location, were held in 1834, establishing St. John’s Parish. Since 1951, St. John’s has served as the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. Our identity as a church, “in the heart of the city, with the city in its heart” leads us to continue a strong tradition of outreach ministry, locally and globally.

We are a church, a parish, and a Cathedral. Why Cathedral? The word cathedral comes from the Latin cathedra, meaning bishop’s chair or bishop’s seat. St. John’s is the home of the Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Florida. The Bishop’s chair is in the chancel, along the main axis of the church and in front of the choir.

Part of the rich history of Anglican Cathedrals is education. In keeping with this tradition, Cathedral tours are offered each Sunday following both the 8 am and 10:30 am services of Holy Eucharist. Cathedral tours are led by trained Cathedral Docents. Please look for the Docents in purple robes at the Baptismal Font.

Additional tours for school groups and visitors to the Jacksonville community may be arranged by contacting Canon Administrator, Monica MacKenzie or 632-9104 x24.

Click here for information on lay ministry opportunities at St. John’s.

Publications
Our new Cathedral Quarterly appears four times a year:
Fall 2010 The Power of Giving
Summer 2010 Our Year of Listening

Sign up for our e-newsletter, The Eagle.
Past editions:
2011:
The Eagle, Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Third Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Second Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Trinity Sunday, First Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, Pentecost Sunday
The Eagle, Seventh Sunday of Easter
The Eagle, Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Eagle, Fifth Sunday of Easter
The Eagle, Fourth Sunday of Easter
The Eagle, Third Sunday of Easter
The Eagle, Second Sunday of Easter
The Eagle, Easter Sunday
The Eagle, Palm Sunday
The Eagle, Fifth Sunday in Lent
The Eagle, Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Eagle, Third Sunday in Lent
The Eagle, Second Sunday in Lent
The Eagle, First Sunday in Lent
The Eagle, Ninth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, Third Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, Second Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, First Sunday after the Epiphany
The Eagle, Second Sunday after Christmas
2010:
The Eagle, Christmas 2010
The Eagle, Fourth Sunday in Advent
The Eagle, Third Sunday in Advent
The Eagle, Second Sunday in Advent
The Eagle, Thanksgiving, First Sunday in Advent
The Eagle, Feast of Christ the King
The Eagle, 25th Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, All Saints Sunday
The Eagle, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, 21st Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, 20th Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, 19th Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, 18th Sunday after Pentecost
The Eagle, 17th Sunday after Pentecost