The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist — Attraction in Savannah

Amazingly beautiful Cathedral, however I have to leave one star for the incredibly rude, arrogant, and standoffish staff working there. This is a house of God, not a tourist destination. Super uncharitable for people working in this church to have absolutely abysmal attitudes, yet turn around and ask for donations at every turn. Please, hire new staff or even get volunteers who would be happy to have the honor of working at this beautiful work of art. I did, however, receive a wonderful confession from the priest here, so it is very sad that the rest of the staff behaves rudely.

Update: When I reached out several months ago, I was told that weddings were only permitted for parishioners. I shared that my fiancé and I were willing to attend Mass there regularly and genuinely hoped to become part of this parish community, despite living in Atlanta. Unfortunately, I was met not only with refusal but with a tone that felt unnecessarily dismissive and unwelcoming.

What has deepened this disappointment is learning—through my marriage preparation class—that a couple from ANOTHER state is scheduled to be married at this cathedral. I couldn’t help but feel confused and hurt, as I was led to believe that residency and parish membership were firm requirements.

I felt it was important to share how disheartening the experience was—not only because of the rejection itself, but because of how it was delivered and how inconsistently it appears...

Five stars for the beauty of the church. Two stars taken away for the manners of the parish. My husband and I came for the 11:30am Mass on a Sunday. We arrived around 11, as I prefer to use the restroom and have time to pray the rosary before Mass begins. Despite my wearing a veil, which to me makes it quite obvious that I am there for Mass and am not a tourist, we were immediately blocked from coming into the building by 3 ushers and were told we couldn’t tour until the afternoon. After I had stated we were there for Mass, I was told that we would have to move to the sides of the plaza out front to allow the parishioners from the 10am Mass to come through. No option of using the bathroom, which is in the entranceway and my going to it would have no effect on the Mass taking place. When I finally was allowed in the building, I kindly asked a 4th usher which way the restrooms were and received a very cold response. If I had “looked more Catholic” I suppose I would have been treated differently. I may come tour the building on another visit to Savannah but will definitely be attending Mass at...

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist: A Must-See in Savannah.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist is one of the most beautiful and historic churches in Savannah, Georgia. It was built in the French Gothic style in 1859, and it was nearly destroyed by fire in 1898. However, it was rebuilt and dedicated in 1900. The cathedral is home to some stunning stained glass windows, including a 60-foot-tall rose window over the main altar. It also has 16 gargoyles, which are carved stone figures that are said to protect the church from evil spirits. The cathedral is open to visitors Monday-Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm, and Sunday from 1pm to 4:30pm. There is a small fee for admission. If you're visiting Savannah, be sure to add the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist to your list of must-sees. It's a beautiful and historic church that is sure to leave you in awe.

Visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist today and experience its beauty for yourself!

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