Historian and church member Richard Grimmett gave a tour of St. John’s Church on Lafayette Square near the White House. The church was built in 1816 and designed by U.S. Capitol architect Benjamin Latrobe. St. John’s is known as the "Church of the Presidents", because every president since James Madison has attended at least one service there.
Richard Grimmett showed the pews where U.S. presidents have sat in St. John’s Church and the attendance book that presidents have signed. He talked about the tradition of presidents attending a service there on the morning of an inauguration. Historical photographs and film clips were shown.