About Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist · Charleston, South Carolina
The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, located at 120 Broad Street in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Designed by Brooklyn architect Patrick Keely in the Gothic Revival style and dedicated in 1907, it serves as both the diocesan cathedral and an active parish of roughly 1,015 households. The brownstone landmark — completed with its long-awaited spire and three bells in 2010 — houses the crypt of Bishop John England and four other Charleston bishops, and is renowned for its Franz Mayer & Co. stained glass, Bedient pipe organ, and Solemn Sunday Mass with a semi-professional Cathedral Choir.
- Established
- 1821
- Patron
- Saint John the Baptist
- Rector
- Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson, V.G. (Rector)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is the spiritual heart of Catholic life in South Carolina, offering the full rhythm of parish life in a stunning historic setting: weekday noon Mass, three Sunday Masses (including a Solemn Mass with a semi-professional Cathedral Choir and a 6:30 pm Spanish Mass), Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration with Night Prayer and Benediction, and daily Confession. Members find a deep bench of formation — a K4–High School School of Christian Formation, two-year sacramental prep for First Communion and Confirmation, and a thriving youth group — alongside outreach through the Peninsula Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which served 470 families with rent, utilities, and food from January to September 2025 alone. As both a worshipping parish and a pilgrimage destination, the cathedral welcomes newcomers, returning Catholics, and visitors with open doors and a tradition of beautiful liturgy in one of Charleston's most iconic buildings.
Mass times at Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11:00 am – 11:45 am
- Wednesday: 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 11:00 am and 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- No confessions on most civil holidays (check bulletin).
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: Eucharistic Adoration following the 12:05 pm Mass until 7:00 pm
- Night Prayer at 6:30 pm, concluding with Benediction at 7:00 pm
- No Adoration on December 24 and 31.
History of the Cathedral Parish
The story of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is a 200-year saga of destruction, perseverance, and renewal. Bishop John England bought the Broad Street lot in 1821, built a temporary chapel, and dedicated the first permanent Cathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar in 1854 — only to lose it to the great Charleston fire of 1861. After 45 years of fundraising, the present Gothic Revival cathedral was designed by Patrick Keely, blessed by Cardinal Gibbons in 1890, and dedicated in 1907. A long-promised spire and three Paccard bells finally topped the building in 2010. Today it remains the mother church of South Carolina's oldest Catholic diocese.
- 1821 — Bishop John England purchases the Broad and Friend (Legare) Street lot
- December 30, 1821 — temporary chapel blessed and named for St. Finbar
- 1820 — Diocese of Charleston erected by the Vatican
- July 30, 1850 — cornerstone laid for the first cathedral
- April 6, 1854 — Cathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar consecrated (seated 1,200; cost $103,000)
- December 11, 1861 — destroyed in the Great Charleston Fire along with St. Andrew's Hall
- January 1890 — Cardinal James Gibbons lays the cornerstone for the present cathedral
- 1907 — Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist dedicated (without its planned spire)
- 1957, 1966–67 — extensive repairs for the 50th anniversary and beyond
- 1982 — 75th anniversary renovations under Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler
- 1991 — Bishop David B. Thompson commissions the present altar and cathedra
- 1995 — interior repainted in a Gothic-highlighting color scheme with gold-leafing
- 2007 — stained-glass refurbished; Bishop Robert J. Baker and Msgr. Joseph Roth launch renovation plan
- 2009 — three Paccard bronze bells blessed by Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone (October 15) and raised into the tower (November 16)
- March 25, 2010 — spire, steeple, and bells completed ($6.2 million project)
- 2019 — interior renovations begun by Conrad Schmitt Studios
- May 13, 2022 — Bishop Jacques E. Fabre ordained and installed as fourteenth Bishop of Charleston
Architecture, Stained Glass & Art
Architect Patrick Keely's Gothic Revival design wraps a 200-by-80-foot nave of Connecticut tool-chiseled brownstone, crowned since 2010 by a 167-foot spire. The interior glows with stained glass from the celebrated Franz Mayer & Co. studio in Munich. The five-panel chancel window depicts the Lamb of God, a pelican feeding her three chicks, the Sacred Heart, and a rose window of the Baptism of Jesus surrounded by eight musician-angels. A replica of Leonardo's Last Supper and hand-painted Stations of the Cross complete the decorative program.
- Architects: Patrick C. Keely, with Decimus C. Barbot and Ruben Solar (belfry/spire)
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Materials: Connecticut tool-chiseled brownstone
- Capacity: 720 (upper church), 200 (lower church)
- Dimensions: ~200 ft long × 80 ft wide; spire 167 ft
- Stained glass by Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, Germany
- Rose window depicting the Baptism of Jesus with eight musician-angels
- Last Supper replica in stained glass
- Hand-painted Stations of the Cross
The Crypt Chapel of the Bishops
Beneath the upper church, the Saint John the Baptist Crypt Chapel serves as the resting place of the first five bishops of Charleston and Joanna Monica England, sister of Bishop John England. The bishops vest here for Holy Mass. A hand-painted altarpiece depicts John the Baptist holding a lamb above the South Carolina landscape, flanked by two angels — one with a crosier, the other with the diocesan coat of arms — and the chapel holds a niche statue of St. Joseph with the Child Jesus. Windows in the crypt are salvaged from the former Immaculate Conception Church.
- Contains the remains of Bishop John England and four other Charleston bishops
- Bishops vest here before Mass
- Hand-painted altarpiece of St. John the Baptist over the SC landscape
- Salvaged stained-glass windows from the former Immaculate Conception Church
Music at the Cathedral
Music is central to worship at the cathedral, anchored by a Bedient Opus 22 mechanical-action pipe organ and a semi-professional Cathedral Choir. The choir sings the 11:15 am Solemn Mass each Sunday, joined for major feasts by members of the Charleston Symphony. Scott Powell has served as Director of Sacred Music since 2019. A roster of distinguished predecessors includes Virginia Sturcken (1950–1991), Bill Schlitt (1991–2000), Mark Thomas (2000–2009), Scott Turkington (2010–2014), and Daniel Sansone (2014–2019).
- Director of Sacred Music (2019–present): Scott Powell
- Bedient Opus 22 tracker organ (two manuals, 26 stops, 32 ranks) installed 1995
- Cathedral Choir sings the 11:15 am Solemn Mass
- Repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant and polyphony to orchestral/choral works with the Charleston Symphony
Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep
The School of Christian Formation partners with parents in passing on the Catholic faith to children from K5 through high school. Classes meet Sunday mornings from 10:05 to 11:05 am in the Cathedral Center, mid-August through May. Sacramental preparation for both First Holy Communion and Confirmation is a two-year program; First Communion is celebrated at the 9:00 am Mass and Confirmation on a designated evening in spring. A youth group and summer Youth Discipleship program extend formation beyond the classroom.
- Christian Formation: K5–Grade 8 and High School, Sundays 10:05–11:05 am
- First Holy Communion: two-year program (celebrated at the 9:00 am Mass)
- Confirmation: two-year program
- Contact: Brian Barnwell, 843-724-8395 — [email protected]
- Youth Group and Summer Youth Discipleship
- Vacation Bible School
Outreach & Charity
Catholic social teaching is lived out through the Peninsula Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which the cathedral runs jointly with St. Patrick and St. Mary of the Annunciation. About 22 Vincentian volunteers serve families on the Charleston peninsula in ZIP codes 29401 and 29403, providing food, rent, and utility assistance. The cathedral also partners with Our Lady of Mercy Outreach and supports the Carolina Catholic Professionals-Lucis Via Charities Coronavirus Emergency Relief Fund.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society helpline: 843-727-1577
- Jan–Sept 2025: 470 families served with rent/utility assistance; 123 also received food
- Joint ministry with St. Patrick and St. Mary of the Annunciation parishes
- Our Lady of Mercy Outreach partnership
- Holy Name Society (annual golf tournament fundraiser)
Clergy & Staff
The cathedral is led by Rector Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson, V.G., who is serving his second tenure, supported by Parochial Vicar Rev. Paul R. Lacombe and Rev. Andrew Jaroslav Fryml in residence. Bishop Jacques E. Fabre, C.S., the fourteenth Bishop of Charleston, was ordained and installed at the cathedral on May 13, 2022. Lay staff include Executive Assistant Stephanie Stewart and Finance Manager Angela Prince. Scott Powell serves as Director of Sacred Music.
- Rector: Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson, V.G.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Paul R. Lacombe
- In Residence: Rev. Andrew Jaroslav Fryml
- Bishop of Charleston: Most Rev. Jacques E. Fabre, C.S.
- Executive Assistant: Stephanie Stewart
- Finance: Angela Prince
- Director of Sacred Music: Scott Powell
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Budds
Listed among previous rectors; dates unknown.
- Reverend James J. May
Previous rector; dates unknown.
- Monsignor Joseph Bernarden
Previous rector; dates unknown.
- Reverend Frederick J. Hopwood
Previous rector; dates unknown.
- Monsignor Thomas R. Duffyc. 1984 – 1987
Administrator.
- Monsignor Charles Rowland, P.A., V.G.1987 – 1990
Rector.
- Monsignor Sam R. Miglarese, V.G.1990 – 1998
Rector.
- Monsignor Chester M. Moczydlowski1998 – 2001
Rector.
- Monsignor Joseph R. Roth, P.A., V.G.2001 – 2008
Rector; launched the renovation/spire campaign.
- Rev. Gregory B. Wilson2008 – 2011
Rector (first tenure).
- Monsignor Steven L. Brovey2011 – 2022
Rector.
- Monsignor D. Anthony Droze, V.G.2022
Administrator pro tempore.
- Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson, V.G.2022 – present
Current Rector (second tenure).
