St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Fremont, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
|
|
Front and southern side
|
|
 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 200 N. Park Ave., Fremont, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1843 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001085 |
| Added to NRHP | June 9, 1977 |
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a very old and important church building in Fremont, a city in northwestern Ohio. It was built in the 1840s and has been made bigger many times since then. This church is special because of its unique Gothic Revival style. It is now recognized as a historic site because of its history and design.
Contents
How the Church Started and Grew
The first meeting for the Protestant Episcopal faith in Fremont happened on January 15, 1842. Twenty-eight people were there. Soon after, they chose leaders for their church group. They asked a church leader named Bishop McIlvaine to send them a pastor.
A priest from Norwalk started visiting regularly. Then, a new priest was chosen in November of that year. However, he only stayed for one year because he became sick.
Building the First Church
In 1843, the church members built their very own church building. It was located at the corner of Main and Court Streets. Before this, they met in different places. They used the Methodist church, an old stone school-house, and even the local courthouse.
People raised money for the new church by renting out seats (called pews) and getting donations. Wealthier members also gave extra money. Bishop McIlvaine officially opened the new building in late 1845.
Changes and Improvements Over Time
The inside of the church was updated in 1859. They added beautiful paintings on the walls, called frescoes. In 1861, gas lights were put in, which was very modern for the time. The church also worked hard to get children to come to Sunday school, and it grew a lot!
More big changes happened in 1872 and 1873. They spent over $8,000 to make the building larger. They also replaced the furnace and carpet. Other parts of the inside were rebuilt too. At this time, they planned to add a tall tower. This tower was finally built in 1906. Before the tower, the church was a simple rectangular building with a pointed roof.
Famous Members of the Church
Some very important people were members of St. Paul's Church. One was Ralph Pomeroy Buckland, who was a general during the American Civil War. Another famous member was Rutherford B. Hayes. He later became the 19th President of the United States!
What the Church Looks Like
St. Paul's Church is a great example of Gothic Revival style. It has brick walls and a strong stone foundation. Wood is also used in its design.
One of its most special parts is the square bell tower, which was added in 1906. Inside the church, you can see an eight-sided area for baptisms, called a baptistry. There is also a large pipe organ and the beautiful frescoes on the walls. The front part of the church, called the chancel, was made bigger in 1873. Large chandeliers and colorful stained glass windows light up the inside.
The Church Today
St. Paul's Church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. This is a larger group of Episcopal churches in Ohio. In early 2013, the main priest, called the rector, was Daniel Longsworth Orr.
In 1977, St. Paul's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historic building. It was chosen because of its special architecture. It is one of several historic places in Fremont that are listed on the National Register.
