About the Saint John Will-I-Am Coltrane African Orthodox Church
Established in 1969
For more than five decades, we have served as a home for worship, sacred music, spiritual exploration, and community care in San Francisco. As a parish of the African Orthodox Church, we welcome seekers, musicians, jazz lovers, longtime believers, and curious newcomers from around the world. Our church is inspired by the spiritual message found in the music and life of John Coltrane, especially the devotional vision expressed through A Love Supreme. We believe music can be a vehicle for prayer, healing, meditation, liberation, and communion with God. What began as a movement grounded in sacred listening, community gathering, and spiritual seeking has continued to evolve into a ministry centered on worship, compassion, creativity, and service to humanity. What We Believe We believe in: The love and teachings of Jesus Christ The presence and movement of the Holy Spirit The sacred dignity of all people The transformative power of sound and music Compassion, justice, creativity, and community care As part of the African Orthodox tradition, we honor historic Christian liturgy while embracing improvisation, meditation, and jazz as sacred expressions of worship. For us, music is more than performance — it is prayer, testimony, and spiritual practice. What Worship Is Like Visitors often describe our services as joyful, welcoming, meditative, and deeply spiritual. Our worship gatherings may include: Prayer and scripture Meditation and reflection Live jazz performance and improvisation Congregational participation Sacred readings and testimony Fellowship and community gathering Music is central to our ministry because we believe sound can communicate beyond words and help open the heart to divine presence. Musicians are often welcome to participate in services in the spirit of worship and collaboration.
What We Believe

We believe in:

  • The love and teachings of Jesus Christ
  • The presence and movement of the Holy Spirit
  • The sacred dignity of all people
  • The transformative power of sound and music
  • Compassion, justice, creativity, and community care

As part of the African Orthodox tradition, we honor historic Christian liturgy while embracing improvisation, meditation, and jazz as sacred expressions of worship.

For us, music is more than performance — it is prayer, testimony, and spiritual practice.

What Worship Is Like

Visitors often describe our services as joyful, welcoming, meditative, and deeply spiritual.

Our worship gatherings may include:

  • Prayer and scripture
  • Meditation and reflection
  • Live jazz performance and improvisation
  • Congregational participation
  • Sacred readings and testimony
  • Fellowship and community gathering

Music is central to our ministry because we believe sound can communicate beyond words and help open the heart to divine presence.

Musicians are often welcome to participate in services in the spirit of worship and collaboration.

Archbishop George Duncan Hinkson
Founder of Saint Augustine's Cathedral, Chicago IL

His Eminence the Most Reverend Archbishop George Duncan Hinkson, MD, DD Patriarch of the AOC of the West. 

The ordaining Bishop of His Eminence Archbishop Franzo King, pictured at St. Augustine's Cathedral in Chicago.