St. John's Episcopal Church, Montgomery

In those days, people actually bought the seats they were to sit in and it became so popular that all 48 seats in the town's first brick church were soon taken.

That's surprising, since other denominations outnumbered the Episcopalians at the time.

Still the church prevailed as did the town, which quickly grew and was soon shipping out more cotton than anywhere else on the planet.

A bigger town meant a new church was needed and one was duly built at the other end of the street.

Its nave and narthex can still be seen today, incorporated into the present church.

But from present-day to past history, St. John's has certainly seen its share of significant events.

It was host to the historic Secession convention of Southern Churches in 1861 and it's also where the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, came to worship, along with his wife.

His pew is now a memorial.

But the life of the church was not an easy one and it was closed down in 1865 under the orders of the Union Army.

Not to be beaten down, however, parishioners retaliated by having services in their own homes.

Finally, the church was reopened in 1866 at which time space was actually added to it despite the fact that the recent Civil War had crushed much of the local economy.

But not being wasteful, the resourceful parishioners used the bricks from that church to help make the current chancel and sanctuary.

The church was expanded again in 1906 and decorative Italian mosaic tile made an elegant floor in the chancel.

Its location downtown was beneficial for the church and the ever increasing number of visitors made the parishioners realize they would have to give up their seats.

This they did willingly and these days a notice at the entrance welcomes non-members with the words "All Pews Are Free. Strangers Are Welcome."

Even during World War I, St. John's did its part.

It welcomed many an army recruit from the nearby Camp Sheridan three miles away.

But it also did its bit to help contain epidemics and in 1918 the church was closed due to an unfortunate outbreak of Spanish influenza, which had spread to Montgomery (and here we were thinking that the flu, swine or any other kind, was a new problem).

Over future years St. John's did its part in building brotherhood by being available as a meeting place for both the Lutherans and the Orthodox Greeks.

Not finished with helping during times of need, the church also took on the role of entertainment.

Military men from Maxwell and Gunter Fields, including groups of British cadets, were hosted by church women on Saturday afternoons in the Parish House.

This section of the church has also been used as a distribution center in the past when the Red Cross handed out clothing to tornado survivors.

When you visit, look out for the ceiling medallions, originally painted in 1869, and the 1885 chime of bells in the tower.

And if you ever thought you were not a patient person, then take the time to admire the needlework of the church women who labored on the 400 prayer kneelers on display.

Work started in 1976. The church also boasts beautiful stained glass windows, created by Charles Connick of Boston in 1923 and Louis Tiffany of New York around 1924.

The history of St. John's has been as much a part of the South as have other, more well-known activities, like the Civil Rights Movement of the early 1950s and '60s.

History, art and spirituality can all be found at the charming St. John's Episcopal church, one of Alabama's most enduring landmarks.

For good reason, visitors who have seen it advise everybody to go and visit it And we say "Amen" to that.

Website: www.stjohnsmontgomery.org