St. Paul's Church (Fairlee, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Paul's Church
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7579 Sandy Bottom Rd., Chestertown, Maryland |
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| Nearest city | Chestertown, Maryland |
| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1711-1713 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001820 |
| Added to NRHP | June 6, 1980 |
St. Paul's Church is a very old and important Episcopal church located near Fairlee, not far from Chestertown. It's in Kent County, Maryland. St. Paul's Church was one of the first thirty churches set up in Maryland way back in 1692. This happened when a law made the Church of England the official religion of the Maryland colony.
The church building you see today was finished in 1713. It's built in the Georgian style, which was popular at the time. It's the second-oldest Episcopal church on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Only Trinity Church in Church Creek, built in 1675, is older.
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
Starting the Parish
St. Paul's Parish was created by a special law in 1692. A group of church leaders, called the vestry, met for the first time in January 1693. They decided how the first church building would be made. Daniel Norris built this first church. It was finished by 1696 and cost twenty-one thousand pounds of tobacco. Back then, tobacco was often used like money!
Building the New Church
In 1711, the church leaders decided to build a new brick church. They hired James Harris for the job. The new church was planned to be 40 feet long and 20 feet wide inside. It would be 16 feet tall from the ground. It also had five windows and two doors. The walls were very thick, made of bricks. There was a special rounded area at the east end for communion.
This new church cost seventy thousand pounds of tobacco. It took two years to build. On April 6, 1713, James Harris finished the new St. Paul's Church. Over the next two years, the inside was plastered. They added thirty-four pews (church benches), a pulpit (where sermons are given), and a reading desk. The aisles were laid with bricks in a cool herringbone design.
The Vestry House
In 1766, a Vestry House was built. This was a separate building where the church leaders would meet. These houses used to be common in churches in the Mid-Atlantic region. But today, only two of them are left in Maryland. The other one is at St. George's Church in Perryman, Maryland.
How the Church Looked Inside
St. Paul's Church, opened in 1713, is still used today. It's the oldest church building in Maryland that has been used continuously. The church is about 30 feet by 40 feet. It has a rounded end on the east side where musicians might have sat. The floor was not raised like it is now. There was also no altar at first. People sat in "box pews" on chairs. They faced the pulpit, which was in the middle of the north wall. The main door was on the south wall.
Important Leaders in the 1700s
Many important rectors (church leaders) served the church in the 1700s. One was Rev. James Sterling, who served from 1740 to 1763. He was from Ireland and was a poet, a writer of plays, and a socialite. He also worked as a customs collector for Chestertown.
Another key leader was Rev. William Smith. He became the rector of St. Paul's Parish in 1779. Rev. Smith helped start Washington College. He also supported the American colonies' fight for independence. He led a meeting in 1780 where the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland was formed. This helped St. Paul's Church stay open after the Revolutionary War.
Changes and Growth in the 1800s
After the American Revolutionary War, St. Paul's Parish faced some tough times. By 1840, only thirteen families were part of the church. But, with good leadership, the church started to grow again in the mid-1800s.
In 1841, a new vestry (a room for church leaders) was added. The inside of the church got new pews. The sanctuary area was also changed to focus more on communion. St. Paul's Church was officially dedicated again on November 26, 1843. This was done by Bishop William Rollinson Whittingham.
During the American Civil War, a special stained-glass window was put in above the altar. It had colors and symbols that were later used in the Maryland State Flag. This window was a sign of unity for the church members, who had different feelings about the war.
St. Paul's Church continued to do well in the late 1800s. Rev. Sewell S. Hepburn served as rector from 1874 to 1881. He was the grandfather of the famous actress Katharine Hepburn.
Another important pastor was Rev. Christopher Denroche. He came from Canada in 1892 and stayed until he passed away in 1906. Rev. Denroche wrote a book about the church's history for its 200th birthday in 1893. He also helped set up a monument for the Battle of Caulk's Field. This was a battle fought in Kent County during the War of 1812. More improvements were made to the church, including a cast iron chandelier in 1882. A marble altar was added in 1890, and beautiful stained glass windows were put in the main part of the church in 1912.
The 1900s and Today
In the 1900s, St. Paul's Parish kept adding to its campus around the old church. A new parish hall and rectory (the pastor's house) were built in 1948. These were designed by Bryden Hyde, an architect from Baltimore. He was a descendant of an early rector of the church. In 1967, the vestry room was made bigger, and more improvements were done.
St. Paul's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's recognized as a very important historic site. The church celebrated its 300th birthday in 1992 with a year-long festival. A special visitor, Canon John Sausmarez from Canterbury Cathedral, even came for the celebration.
Images for kids
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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St. Paul's Church, 1936
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St. Paul's interior, 1936
