John McCormick Buchanan
January 30, 1938 – February 3, 2025

Memorial Service
Saturday, March 8, 2025
1:00 p.m.
in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on YouTube

Prelude by Tower Brass and organ
12:30 p.m.
(also livestreamed)

Printable bulletin (PDF) | Moble-friendly bulletin

Condolences
Condolences and memories can be shared by mail or email.

Buchanan Family
c/o Allison MacDonna
Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E. Chestnut St.
Chicago, IL 60611.2014

or email Allison MacDonna
and include “John Buchanan” in the subject line.

Videos of Memories from John Buchanan
shared for the 150th Anniversary of Fourth Church
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Video of John Buchanan Preaching
on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the congregation
Sermon preached February 13, 2022

Transcripts of Sermons by John Buchanan
from September 1998 to January 2012
are available in our sermon archive

Devotions by John Buchanan
selected from the reflections he wrote over the year
shared on February 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Sun-Times Obituary

Tribune Obituary

A February 4 letter from Tom Are to the congregation of Fourth Church

Dear Fourth Family,

We received the sad news last night that our beloved Pastor Emeritus the Reverend John M. Buchanan died.

John served as Senior Pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church from 1985 to 2012, and his faith and faithful spirit guided this magnificent church family through all those years. As an unparalleled leader in the Presbyterian Church (USA), John’s ministry extended significantly beyond Fourth Church as well.

There will be time to talk about all that John did, but I am mindful that what we think of first is how he loved us and how we love him. So many of you have memories of John praying with you at a time of loss or grief. You know how important that is, so I hope you join me in praying for John’s children and grandchildren as they face their grief, which is compounded by the loss of Sue Buchanan just last year.

Remember the promises of God:

I go to prepare a place for you and will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Nothing in life or death can separate us from the love of God.

God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more, mourning and crying and pain will be no more.

John M. Buchanan preached these truths his entire ministry. He now knows them in their fullness, as he has joined the church triumphant.

Blessings,

Tom Are Jr.

Photo: John Buchanan’s final Sunday as Pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church (January 29, 2012)

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