Begun in 1826 (35 years after the founding of Knoxville) St. John’s church was one of the congregations represented at the Primary Convention when the Diocese of Tennessee was organized in Nashville in 1829.  In May, 1844, with twenty-five communicants, St. John’s became the first mission from Eastern Tennessee to be admitted to the Diocese of Tennessee.

    In 1891, the original building was razed to make room for a larger facility.  After a devastating fire in the Church building in 1919, many of the original stained glass windows were destroyed, but the building was promptly restored.  In 1963, extensive renovation created the Undercroft under the nave floor.  In 1986, St. John’s was designated the Cathedral for the newly created Diocese of East Tennessee.