Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site facts for kids
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St. Paul's Church National Historic Site
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 897 South Columbus Avenue, Eastchester, Mount Vernon, New York |
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| Area | 6 acres (24,281 m²) |
| Built | 1765 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Visitation | 13,869 (2005) |
| Website | Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000580 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHS | July 5, 1943 |
Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site is a special place in Mount Vernon, New York. It's a United States National Historic Site that helps protect Saint Paul's Church. This church is one of New York's oldest and has a lot of history!
The site was created in 1978 to keep the church safe from new buildings and factories growing nearby. During the American Revolutionary War in 1776, after the Battle of Pell's Point, the church was even used as a hospital for soldiers. Around the church, there's a large cemetery that is about 5 acres (20,234 square meters). It has an estimated 9,000 graves, with the oldest ones dating back to 1704.
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The Church's Early Days
The group that started Saint Paul's Church began way back in 1665. The very first church building on this spot was a small, square wooden one, built in 1695. It was known as the Church of Eastchester. The church building you see today was built in 1764. However, it wasn't called Saint Paul's Church until 1795.
A Famous Election in 1733
One of the most well-known political events in early America happened right here! On October 29, 1733, an election took place on the Village Green in Eastchester. People were voting for an open seat in the New York assembly.
Historians still study this election today. It helps them understand what life was like in the colonies. Many writers connect this election to the story of John Peter Zenger. He was a printer who was found not guilty in a famous court case in 1735. His case is seen as a big step for freedom of the press in America. Zenger's newspaper, the New York Weekly Journal, even had a long report about this election. This report is one of the few detailed accounts we have of an election from that time.
Revolutionary War: Battle of Pell's Point
Less than a mile from Saint Paul's Church, a major battle of the American Revolutionary War took place on October 18, 1776. This was the Battle of Pell's Point. After the battle, the church became a hospital for the British Army.
The church's bell tower holds a special bell. It was made in 1758 in the same London factory that made the famous Liberty Bell. As the fighting got closer to the church, George Washington gave an order. He told the people of the church to bury the bell. This was to stop the British from melting it down and using the metal for bullets. That historic bell is still in the tower today!
Saint Paul's Church in Modern Times
In the early 1900s, fewer people attended the church. The last regular Sunday service at Saint Paul's was held in May 1977.
The church, along with its old carriage house, cemetery, and grounds, was officially named a National Historic Site on July 5, 1943. However, it wasn't formally approved until November 10, 1978.
Today, you can visit the church and its 225-year-old bell tower. Rangers give tours and share its history. The old carriage house next to the church is now a museum and visitor center. The site opened to the public in 1984. It is now managed by the National Park Service, working with a group called the Society of the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights at Saint Paul's Church, Eastchester.
A Lasting Legacy
Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site is an important place. In 2004, it was added to the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County. This trail aims to "preserve and interpret the legacy and contributions that people of African descent have made to the development of our unique American identity." Saint Paul's Church is one of only 13 such sites on this special trail.
