About the Cathedral

Welcome to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

Episcopal Church USA, Diocese of Spokane

There is much more to experience in our Cathedral than can be described here. Those who have lived and prayed here longest know that there is something always new to be discovered, a cornice of stone we had never seen before, a different shade of light, or the gentle appearance of an angel. All are welcome to share with us the splendor of God’s majesty in the works of love left to inspire us by those who have gone before, to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for what God has done and is doing in this place.

Nor is a Cathedral itself ever completed. The tangible building may be finished, but that is only the beginning. A Cathedral goes on accumulating the prayers and worship, the joys and sorrows, the history and the very lives of generation after generation of God’s people in a particular community. It becomes an enduring place which the Bishop of the Diocese calls home and where the worshipping community of the entire diocese and wider community is welcomed. We are part of the Episcopal Church USA and the worldwide Anglican communion.

Free Cathedral Tours

Guided tours of St. John’s Cathedral are available Wednesday, Friday & Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. On Sundays, guided tours are available for one hour after the last morning worship service. Naturally, funerals, weddings, civic and cultural events take place in our parish, and tours will not be given during these events. Enter the Cathedral through the South Transept doors on 12th Avenue. Please click the shield to schedule a bus tour or a group of 25 or more. We need 10 business days notice to accommodate these types of tours, please. Group tour bookings cannot be made more than 90 days in advance. Exceptions to this guideline will be considered for national tour groups only.

About Our Cathedral

St. John’s Cathedral is one of the few examples in the United States of classic Gothic architecture.

The Cathedral was begun in 1925 and completed in less than a generation. It is the sucessor to All Saints Cathedral, which stood in downtown Spokane, and is the fulfillment of the dream of the Right Reverend Edward Makin Cross, Third Bishop of Spokane.

The Cathedral has three interwoven functions:

It is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, the location of the official seat of the Bishop and the center of many Diocesan activities. The Diocese encompasses that part of the state of Washington east of the Cascade Mountains and the Idaho Panhandle, that part north of the Salmon River.
The Cathedral is also the home of a large parish congregation.
In addition, its prominent location above the city lends to the Cathedral’s role as a center for public gatherings and cultural activities for Spokane.

Our Cathedral is more than inspiring works of human hands; it is people working and worshiping together, sharing a great vision, pointing to God and embracing our neighbors. Every stone, window, carving — every tangible thing you see here — is a testament to God's Love acting in someone's life, offered in thanksgiving to inspire others. The Bishop, the Dean and the members of the Cathedral congregation welcome you to visit. If you are seeking a church home we hope you will worship with us and learn more of the life of the congregation.