St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Looking north at the new narthex and bell tower of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Walker & Weeks |
| Part of | Fairmount Boulevard District (ID76001391) |
| Designated CP | December 12, 1976 |
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. It is part of the Episcopal Church. The current leader of the church is the Reverend Jeffrey Lee.
Two important past leaders were Reverend Jeanne Leinbach, who was the first woman to lead St. Paul's, and Reverend Alan M. Gates, who later became a Bishop in Massachusetts. St. Paul's is a very active church and has the largest group of members in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio.
The church building is a well-known landmark in Cleveland Heights. It is located at 2747 Fairmount Blvd. The building is a special part of the Fairmount Boulevard District. This district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it is a historic place.
History of St. Paul's Church
St. Paul's Church first started in the city of Cleveland, Ohio on October 26, 1846. The church members did not have their own building right away. Their first building, made of wood, was finished in 1849 but sadly burned down.
A new, small brick church was built by 1858. It was in the Gothic Revival style and located at Euclid and Sheriff (East 4th) Streets. The church grew quickly, and soon this building was too small.
The church moved to a new building at East 40th Street. This building was later sold to the Roman Catholic Church. It was renamed the Church of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle in 1930.
Moving to Cleveland Heights
The first church service at the current location in Cleveland Heights was on April 25, 1928. The church was designed by J. Byers Hayes from the company Walker & Weeks. It was built in the English Gothic style.
The main part of the church, called the nave, was finished and dedicated in 1951. A very famous person, Martin Luther King Jr., spoke at St. Paul's in May 1963. This was just a few months before the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Music at St. Paul's
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is also known for its music. The early music group Apollo's Fire recorded their 2018 album Songs of Orpheus at the church. This album later won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo in 2019.
Church Organs
The main part of the church has three large pipe organs. The most famous one was built in 1952 by a local builder named Walter Holtkamp. This organ is considered a perfect example of his work.
In the late 1980s, the church added another organ. This one was made by an Austrian builder named Gerhard Hradetzky. It is located in the back balcony of the church. The newest organ is a smaller one called an organ positive, made by Vladimir Slajch. The person who plays the organs and leads the choir at St. Paul's today is Kevin Jones.
