Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (Norfolk, Virginia) facts for kids
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St. Paul's Church
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Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in 1907
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 201 St. Paul's Blvd., Norfolk, Virginia |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1739 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001058 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1971 |
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, also known as the Borough Church, is a very old and special church in Norfolk, Virginia. Built in 1739, it's the only building in the city that was built when Virginia was still a British colony and has survived all the wars that have happened in Norfolk.
Over the centuries, this historic building has been a place of worship for different Christian groups. It started as a Church of England church, was later used by Baptists, and then became an Episcopal church again, which it still is today.
A Church Through Time
The history of St. Paul's is full of change and amazing stories of survival.
Who Worshipped Here?
During the Revolutionary War, when America fought for independence from Great Britain, the official Church of England in Virginia changed. It became the new Episcopal Church.
However, the church members in Norfolk had a disagreement. This led them to split into two groups. One group left to form a new church, which is now Christ and St. Luke's Church. The other group stayed at St. Paul's until 1803, when a Baptist group began using the building.
Almost 30 years later, in 1832, the Episcopalians returned to the church. A bishop named Richard Channing Moore held a special ceremony to welcome them back, and the church was officially renamed Saint Paul's.
Surviving a War
On New Year's Day in 1776, during the Revolutionary War, Norfolk was attacked. The British governor, Lord Dunmore, ordered his ships to fire on the town. In response, American soldiers, called Patriots, began to burn the homes of people who were still loyal to Britain.
The fire spread out of control and destroyed almost the entire town. Miraculously, St. Paul's Church was the only major building that wasn't burned down.
During the attack, a cannonball fired from a British ship, possibly the Liverpool, smashed into the church's brick wall. For many years, the cannonball was gone. But in the 1840s, it was found buried in the churchyard. It was put back into the hole it made in the wall, where you can still see it today.
The church also played a role in the Civil War, when it was used as a chapel by Union army soldiers.
A Place for Important Events
St. Paul's has hosted many important ceremonies. One of the most famous was the funeral for General Douglas MacArthur on April 11, 1964.
MacArthur was a famous American general who led troops in World War II. He asked to be buried in Norfolk because his mother was born there and his parents were married in the city. His funeral service was held at St. Paul's before he was laid to rest in the nearby Douglas MacArthur Memorial.
