St. John's Church 'Church of the Presidents' claim

St. John's Episcopal Church near Lafayette Square is widely called the Church of the Presidents because many U.S. presidents have attended services there. Church literature and popular accounts state that every president since James Madison has worshiped at St. John's, a claim that is emphasized in tour narratives; historians note that attendance records and frequency vary by president. The church has hosted official and informal presidential visits and remains closely associated with White House ceremonial life. The association is part historical fact and part institutional tradition.