The parish of St. Luke's was organized by Charles Todd Quintard on March 28, 1864, in the midst of the American Civil War.

[1] On April 22 of that year, Stephen Elliott, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, consecrated the parish's first church building, with Quintard as its rector.

[1][2][3] On June 15, Quintard and Reverend John W. Beckwith hosted funeral services for Confederate major general and former Episcopal Bishop Leonidas K. Polk, who had been killed a day prior at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

[3] In August, shells fired by Union forces severely damaged the building, which was later destroyed during the burning of Atlanta.

[1] On April 10, 1881, Bishop John W. Beckwith made St. Luke's his cathedral, the first building to ever be designated as such in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.