About Us

The Congregation of St. Saviour was founded in 1992 to be the congregation for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. We feel a special privilege to gather in this magnificent place to find our way to God. We hope you will join us.

We are a family of Christians, drawn together by a common mission: "To build and nurture an active Christian community; to support the mission of the Cathedral; to offer opportunities for exploring and expressing spirituality, affirming the diversities that exist among us; above all, through worship, service, and example, to bear witness to Christ's healing and reconciling love to neighbors, pilgrims, and visitors."  Please read our 2006 Annual Report

The Congregation of St. Saviour is the resident congregation at the Cathedral. We are a growing group, some 600 strong, and have an active fellowship and community within the greater life of this sacred space. We invite you to join our community, and a good place to start is to attend our Via Media program, which runs twice a year. What is Via Media? It is "a model of radical hospitality with an eight-week program inviting people to come together for a meal, to watch a video and have a discussion about a variety of topics of interest to Anglican Christians." It is "a tool that presents the basic tenets of Christianity from an inclusive, Anglican approach to scripture, tradition, and reason that leads the participants to a broader view of the faith journey and the role that the Church can play in society." (quotes from www.everyvoice.net). Click Here to indicate interest, and to find out when the next series takes place. Also, Baptism and Confirmation classes are held several times per year. To learn more, or to register, please contact The Rev. Storm Swain, Cathedral Pastor

We are a family of Christians, drawn together by a common mission: "To build and nurture an active Christian community; to support the mission of the Cathedral; to offer opportunities for exploring and expressing spirituality, affirming the diversities that exist among us; above all, through worship, service, and example, to bear witness to Christ's healing and reconciling love to neighbors, pilgrims, and visitors."

Some of us transferred our membership here from other Episcopal church congregations. Others of us were not Episcopalians-or even baptized Christians-when we first came here. We may have been drawn by a sense of holiness hear . . . Or the grandeur of this space and the beauty of its music and liturgy. . .Or by concerts, art exhibits, and other special events held here. . . Or by the desire to help in the Soup Kitchen, the Crisis Center, and other Cathedral programs that reach out to the larger New York City community.

But all of us have become members of the Congregation because we realize that by joining together, we can support the Cathedral and its mission more effectively that we could as individuals. And we enjoy the fellowship that membership brings.

You must be a baptized Christian to join the Congregation. It is not necessary to be an Episcopalian. If you are a member of another Episcopal church, you may request that church to transfer your membership to the Congregation of St. Saviour. (Please complete and return the Request for Letter of Transfer available from the church office.) For those interested in baptism, the Cathedral holds inquirers classes in the spring and fall. There are confirmation classes for those who are baptized Christians but have never been confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Please contact the Congregation office (212/316-7483 or email: St. Saviour) to arrange attendance at one of these classes.

Some History: the Episcopal Church is the American heir to the Church of England, and part of the world-wide Anglican Communion (some 90 million people across every continent). A balance of catholic traditions and the insights of the Protestant Reformation makes this church one of the more inclusive of the Christian family. Our name is derived from the ancient order of the episcopate (from the Greek word for bishop); our bishops provide oversight for the whole Church. In the local congregation priests are the regular presiders and preachers at worship services. Here at the Cathedral we enjoy the best of both worlds, as the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the home of the Bishop of New York and also the place that houses the Congregation of St. Saviour. The Episcopal Church maintains the historic three-fold ministry of bishops, priests and deacons. These ministries include married and single persons, both male and female.