St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Evansville, Indiana) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Paul's Episcopal Church
St. Paul's Episcopal Church in 2019
Location	Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States
Denomination	Episcopal Church
History
Founded	1836
Founder(s)	Jackson Kemper
Architecture
Architect(s)	Reid & Reid
Style	English Gothic Revival
Years built	1886
Administration
Diocese	Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis

St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a historic church located in Evansville, Indiana. It belongs to the Episcopal Church, which is a Christian denomination. The church is known for its beautiful English Gothic Revival style, built with special Indiana limestone.

This church is not just a place of worship; it has also been important in Evansville's history. Many important people from the city's past were part of this church. St. Paul's is also well-known for its community work, like running a soup kitchen called Sr. Joanna's Table on weekends to help those in need.

The current church building was finished in 1886. It stands on the corner of 1st and Chestnut Street in downtown Evansville. It replaced an older church building that was on the same spot. St. Paul's Episcopal Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, meaning it's recognized as an important historical site.

A Look Back: Church History

The first group of Episcopalians in Evansville started St. Paul's parish on January 9, 1836. This was the very first Protestant Episcopal church in the city. Their first leader was Rev. Archibald H. Lamon, who served from 1836 to 1844.

At first, the church members met in the old Vanderburgh County Courthouse. On January 12, 1840, their first church building was officially made sacred by Bishop Jackson Kemper. This building was on the same spot where the current church stands today.

Building a New Church

In the 1880s, the church leaders decided it was time for a new building. The last service in the old church was on April 15, 1883. While the new church was being built, a generous church member named Charles Viele let the congregation use his hall for services.

The first stone for the new St. Paul's Church was laid on September 3, 1883. The building was completed on March 2, 1886. Bishop D.B. Knickerbacker officially made the new building sacred. Charles and Mary Viele also helped pay for a rectory (the home for the church's leader) in 1886 and a chapel named after their family in 1887.

A Leader for Change: Rev. Joseph G. Moore

One of the most important leaders at St. Paul's was Rev. Joseph G. Moore, who served from 1932 to 1943. He was a very active leader, not just in the church but also in the wider community.

During the Great Depression, many churches struggled. Rev. Moore helped keep nearby Episcopal churches open by visiting them and leading services. He also trained regular church members to help him, creating a group called the Evansville Associate Mission.

Rev. Moore was also a strong supporter of civil rights. He worked with groups that fought for fairness and equality. He even brought future Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall to Evansville to help start a local chapter of the NAACP, an organization that works for the rights of African Americans.

In 1937, Evansville had a huge flood. St. Paul's Church was badly damaged inside. Then, on March 27, 1938, a fire broke out because of the flood damage to the organ's wires. The inside of the church had to be completely rebuilt, but the outside stone walls remained strong.

First Female Rector

In 2017, something special happened: Rev. Holly Rankin Zaher was invited to be the church's leader. She became the first female rector (head priest) of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

People of Note

Some famous people who were connected to St. Paul's Episcopal Church include:

• Charles Harvey Denby
• Edwin Denby (politician)
• Charles Denby Jr.
• Gordon Granger, a general who married his wife at St. Paul's in 1869.

Worship Services

St. Paul's Episcopal Church holds regular services:

• Sunday services: 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Weekday services: A special service called Eucharist at noon.

Images for kids

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  Baptismal Font & Northside Facing Stained Glass Window

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