St. Paul's Church (Halifax, Nova Scotia) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church
St Paul's in the Grand Parade
St Paul's Church
44°38′51″N 63°34′29″W / 44.64750°N 63.57472°W / 44.64750; -63.57472
Location	1749 Argyle Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3K4
Country	Canada
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Anglican Church of Canada
History
Founded	13 June 1750 (1750-06-13)
Architecture
Architect(s)	James Gibbs
Architectural type	Georgian
Completed	2 September 1750
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name: St. Paul's Anglican Church National Historic Site of Canada
Designated:	1981
Nova Scotia Heritage Property Act
Type:	Provincially Registered Property
Designated:	7 November 1983
Reference #:	00PNS0006

St. Paul's Church is a very old and important Anglican church in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. It's part of the Anglican Church of Canada. You can find it at the south end of the Grand Parade, which is a big open square. Halifax City Hall is at the other end of the square.

This church was designed to look like the Marybone Chapel in London, England. That chapel was created by a famous architect named James Gibbs. He also designed St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square.

St. Paul's Church was built way back in 1749. It is the oldest surviving Protestant church in all of Canada. It's also the oldest building still standing in Halifax! Below the church, there's a special underground area called a crypt. Nearby, you can also find the St. Paul's Church Cemetery.

Because of its long history, Saint Paul's was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981. It's also recognized as a special heritage property by the province of Nova Scotia.

A Look at St. Paul's Church History
Special Memorials and Art
- Famous Sculptures in the Church
- Special Silver Communion Service
Important Events at St. Paul's
Images for kids
See also

A Look at St. Paul's Church History

St. Paul's Church was started in 1749, the same year the Halifax colony began. Building work started in 1750. The church's design is based on a London chapel by James Gibbs, but with a taller tower added later.

The first minister, Reverend William Tutty, opened the church on September 2, 1750. Other early ministers included Rev. John Breynton and Rev. Thomas Wood. For a while, another church, St. Matthew's United Church, even held its services here until its own building was ready.

Important People Buried Here

During the French and Indian War (a big war in North America), two important people were buried at St. Paul's. One was Governor Charles Lawrence. The other was a Catholic priest named Pierre Maillard. Many Mi'kmaq people attended his funeral. Also during this time, Horatio Gates got married here in 1754. After the war, Vice-Admiral Philip Durell, who fought in important battles, was buried here too.

During the American Revolution, more notable funerals took place. These included Francis McLean, who defended New Ireland (Maine), and Captain Henry Francis Evans, who died in a naval battle. Baron Oberst Franz Carl Erdmann von Seitz, a commander of Hessian soldiers, was also buried here. Governor Michael Francklin's funeral was attended by many Mi'kmaq people.

St. Paul's as a Cathedral

After the American Revolution, in 1787, St. Paul's became the first Anglican Bishop's seat outside of Great Britain. This meant it was the main church for the Diocese of Nova Scotia. This huge area included Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and even parts of Quebec and Ontario. For many years, St. Paul's was one of the only places of worship in Halifax, so other Christian groups also used it for their services. It served as a cathedral until 1864.

The Halifax Explosion and the Church

In 1917, the terrible Halifax Explosion happened. A piece of wooden window frame from another building was blasted into the wall of St. Paul's Church. You can still see it there today!

Special Memorials and Art

St. Paul's Church has many special monuments and artworks. These remember important people and events from history.

Famous Sculptures in the Church

Some of the monuments in the church have sculptures made by leading English artists from the 1800s. These sculptors had their work shown in famous places like the Royal Academy of Arts and the National Portrait Gallery in London.

There are two stone carvings by Samuel Nixon. One shows a shipwreck, and the other shows the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Nixon was known for his amazing art.
Another sculpture was made by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey. He created statues of kings and military heroes that are in famous locations like Trafalgar Square and St Paul's Cathedral.
You can also see a sculpture by Richard Westmacott III. His work includes parts of the Royal Exchange in London.
There's a sculpture by John Gibson and a monument by William F. Woodington. Woodington's art can be found on Westminster Bridge and Nelson's Column.

Richard Westmacott III (1799–1872)
Monument by Richard Westmacott III for Sampson Salter Blowers (1842)
Shipwreck by Samuel Nixon (1835)
Parable of the Good Samaritan by Samuel Nixon (1840)
Francis Leggatt Chantrey
Monument by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1817)
John Gibson
Monument by John Gibson (1834)
William F. Woodington (1806–1893)
Monument by William F. Woodington (1839)

Special Silver Communion Service

Queen Anne silver Communion Service by Francis Garthorne, St. Paul's Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia

The church has a very old and valuable silver communion service. It was given to St. Paul's in 1783 by Governor Parr. Most of the pieces have marks from King George I, and some even have marks from Queen Anne from 1713. These pieces are made from a special type of silver called Britannia silver.

The silversmith who made these pieces was Francis Garthorne. His work is so famous that it's in major museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He also made some of the special ceremonial maces you can see at the Tower of London.

Important Events at St. Paul's

St. Paul's Church has been the site of many important moments in history.

Weddings and Funerals

In 1754, Horatio Gates was married here.
In 1762, the funeral of Catholic Priest Pierre Maillard was held here, with many Mi'kmaq people attending.
In 1782, Governor Michael Francklin's funeral also saw many Mi'kmaq people present.
The funeral for Richard Bulkeley in 1800 was described as the "largest ever seen in Halifax."
In 1813, Captain James Lawrence of the USS Chesapeake had his funeral here.

Horatio Gates married Elizabeth Phillips here in 1754.
Catholic Priest Pierre Maillard's funeral (1762).
NS Governor Michael Francklin's funeral (1782).
Funeral for Richard Bulkeley (1800).
Captain James Lawrence's funeral (1813).

Royal Visits to the Church

St. Paul's has a special "royal pew" where important guests sit. Many members of the British Royal Family have visited over the years:

Prince Edward, who was Queen Victoria's father, visited in 1794.
Prince William Henry, who later became King William IV, attended in 1786.
Prince Edward, who later became King Edward VII, visited in 1860.
Prince George, who later became King George V, visited in 1891.

Prince William Henry (later King William IV) attended in 1786.
Prince Edward attended in 1794.
Prince Edward (later King Edward VII) attended in 1860.
George V (1891).

The Halifax Explosion's Impact

Explosion Window – Silhouette of Jean-Baptiste Moreau (clergyman)

Airborne debris of the Halifax Explosion

St. Paul's Church played a very important role after the Halifax Explosion in 1917. Doctors used the church as an emergency hospital to help the many injured people. Even though most of the windows were smashed and there were cracks in the roof, it was one of the only churches in the city considered safe enough to hold services the next day. All the different church groups in Halifax used St. Paul's for funerals after the disaster.

You can still see two amazing things in the church from the explosion:

The "Explosion Window" shattered in a way that created a silhouette (a dark outline) of a man's head and shoulders. People believe it looks like Abbe Moreau, an early clergyman.
There's also a piece of a steel window frame from another building that is still stuck in the wall of the church's entrance area.

Images for kids

Brigadier General Francis McLean – died 1781 – oldest monument in church
(Loyalist) Governor of South Carolina Lord Charles Montagu
Lt.-Col. Peter Waterhouse
Lt.-Col. John James Snodgrass, fought in Battle of Waterloo (1815)
First Anglican Bishop in North America Charles Inglis
Abolitionist Attorney General Richard John Uniacke
Sampson Salters Blowers, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Scotia.jpg

Chief Justice Sampson Salter Blowers, died 1842 – helped end slavery in Nova Scotia
Chief Justice Brenton Halliburton, died 1860
Father of Confederation Hon. John William Ritchie, died 1890
Lt. Gov. Sir John Harvey
Lt. Gov. John Wentworth
Captain Sir Thomas Ussher's wife Eliza Ussher, died 1835
Rear Admiral Herbert Sawyer's daughter Sophia Sawyer, died 1788
Dr. David Rowlands' wife Esther Rowlands
Suffragist Eliza Ritchie (d.1933) and Sisters windows
Philanthropist and Business woman Isabella Binney Cogswell, died1874
Jean-Baptiste Moreau (clergyman)
Reverend Thomas Wood (1752–1764)
John Breynton
Charles Inglis. died 1816, 1st bishop
Rev. Robert Stanser, 2nd Bishop
Rev. John Inglis, 3rd Bishop
Rev. William Cogswell
Rev. Robert Willis
Charles Lawrence. died 1760, Governor of Nova Scotia
Charles Morris, died 1781
Michael Francklin, died 1782
Richard Bulkeley, died 1800
Captain Philip Durell, died 1786
Edward Cornwallis, Richard Bulkeley, William Nesbitt Plaque
Montague Wilmot
Henry Newton, died 1802
Francis McLean – died 1781
Baron Oberst Franz Carl Erdmann von Seitz Hatchment, died 1782
Lord Charles Montagu
Capt Henry Francis Evans
John Parr, died 1791, Governor of Nova Scotia
Chief Justice Bryan Finucane, died 1785
Chief Justice Sampson Salter Blowers, died 1842
John Wentworth, died 1820, Governor of Nova Scotia
Vice-Admiral Andrew Mitchell
Gravestone for two crew members, HMS Shannon, 1813
Captain Sir Thomas Ussher's wife Eliza Ussher, died 1835
Herbert Sawyer's sister Sophia Sawyer, died 1788
Dr. David Rowlands' wife Esther Rowlands Monument
John Wimburn Laurie's sons
George Brenton Laurie, died 1915
WW1 Doorway Arch - engraved with names of Nova Scotians who died
Richard John Uniacke
Martha Uniacke
Mary (Uniacke) Mitchell
Norman Fitzgerald Uniacke
Richard John Uniacke, Jr.
Andrew Mitchell Uniacke
Robie Uniacke window, died 1904
William James Almon, died 1817
Rebecca Byles Almon, died 1852
William Bruce Almon, died 1840
William Johnston Almon, died 1901
Henry Hezekiah Cogswell
Henry H. Cogswell children's monument
Cogswell monument to his daughter Isabella Binney Cogswell
Rev. William Cogswell
Rev. William Cogswell Monument
Hon. John William Ritchie, died 1890
Suffragist Eliza Ritchie (d.1933) and Sisters window
Ella Almon Ritchie
Joseph Norman Ritchie
Thomas Ritchie