Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (Lee's Summit, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Paul's Episcopal Church
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St. Paul's view from 5th Street
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fifth and S. Green Streets., Lee's Summit, Missouri |
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| Built | 1884 |
| Architect | Rev.F. B. Sheetz |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002720 |
| Added to NRHP | October 03, 1985 |
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a historic church building located in Lee's Summit, Missouri. It was built in 1884 and is a great example of the Carpenter Gothic style. This style uses wood to create buildings that look like the grand stone Gothic churches from earlier times.
The church is found on a unique triangular piece of land where Grand Avenue, Fifth Street, and Green Street meet. The church parish, which is the community of people who attend, started way back in 1867. The original church and the building you see today were designed by a person named Rev. Frederick B. Scheetz.
St. Paul's is special because it's a rare example of a wooden Carpenter Gothic church that is still standing in Missouri. Inside, the walls and high ceilings are covered with thin strips of wood paneling. These strips are placed diagonally on the walls and horizontally on the ceiling, creating a cool pattern. Above the wooden altar, there are three beautiful stained glass windows. The church looks almost exactly the same as when it was built in 1884, with very few changes.
What the Church Looks Like
When the church was first built, people described it in a way that is still true today. The church is made of wood and is about 40 feet long and 24 feet wide. It has a front porch that is 8 by 10 feet. A bell tower rises above the roof.
The church is built very strongly on a solid stone foundation. At the back of the church, this foundation is high enough to create space for a cellar, which was used to store wood. Inside, the entire church is covered with narrow wooden panels. These panels are placed diagonally, and you can't see the wooden beams that support the roof.
Why St. Paul's is Important
St. Paul's Episcopal Church shows a unique way that the older Gothic Revival style was adapted, especially for churches. This style is sometimes called 'vernacular' because it uses local materials and building methods. Because of the costs and the materials available in the Midwest at the time, this wooden church was built as a smaller version of the larger, more detailed churches found in the eastern United States.
The simple shape and decorations of St. Paul's show how people in the Midwest in the 1800s combined their spiritual beliefs with the practical realities of their time and place. The fact that the building has stayed the same for so long also shows how strong and continuous the religious community has been. St. Paul's Episcopal Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1985. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
Current Status
St. Paul's is still an active church today. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri. The current leader of the church is the Rev. Mark McGuire.
You can learn more about the church at its website: www.stpaulsls.org
Images for kids
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View from Green Street in March 2008
