St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Newport, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7 Court Place Newport, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | J.R. Neff |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001494 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1980 |
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a historic church building in Newport, Kentucky. It was built in 1871 and is located at 7 Court Place, near York Street. This beautiful church is part of the Episcopal faith. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1980.
Contents
A Look Back at St. Paul's Church
How the Church Began
St. Paul's Church started on Easter Sunday in 1844. A helper named Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hamner Cobbs from Cincinnati played a big part. He helped people in Newport who wanted to start a new church. Many people thought he was the founder of St. Paul's. Six months later, Rev. Cobbs became a Bishop in Alabama.
Later in 1844, the church leaders bought a small brick church building. It was a Methodist church on Court Place. They paid $500 for it. This old building was about 30 feet wide and 40 feet long. Inside, it had a low balcony at the front. This balcony was used by people who came to meetings with their masters.
In 1845, St. Paul's officially joined the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky.
Building a New Church
In 1871, the first stone was laid for the church building you see today. It was built right where the old brick Methodist church stood. This new church was designed by J. R. Neff and is now a famous landmark in Kentucky. In August 1873, the church bell rang for the first time. It called people to morning prayers.
The cost to build the church grew from about $19,452 to over $33,000. The church was officially dedicated in 1888. Even though more people joined the church, the leaders had trouble paying off the building's debt. This problem lasted into the 1900s.
Facing Challenges Together
The church and its members have gone through many natural disasters. These include an earthquake in 1880. They also survived huge floods from the Ohio River in 1884 and 1937. Tornadoes hit the area in 1915 and 1986, but the church stood strong.
Famous People Who Worshipped Here
Many important people have attended St. Paul's Church.
- Gen. James Taylor Jr. was a general in the War of 1812.
- Henry Stanbery was a lawyer who defended President Andrew Johnson. This happened during his impeachment trial in 1868.
- Brent Spence served in the United States Congress for 37 years. He was a lifelong member of the church.
St. Paul's Today
Helping the Community
Today, St. Paul's has a very active group of church members. The Very Reverend S. Matthew Young, SCP, is the current Rector. He also serves as the Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr. This is located at the Cathedral Domain in the Diocese of Lexington. He is also a chaplain for the Newport Fire/EMS Department, Newport Police Department, and Fire Department Bellevue/Dayton.
The church has now regained its full status within the Episcopal Church. St. Paul's also runs the St. Paul's Food Pantry in Newport. This pantry helps hundreds of families every month. Church services, called Holy Eucharist, are held at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Special services are also held on holy days.
