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 church is part of the Episcopal faith. On November 25, 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
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The Church's Early Days
The idea for St. Paul's Church started on Easter Sunday in 1844. A helpful leader named Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hamner Cobbs from a church in Cincinnati assisted. He helped people in Newport who wanted to start their own church. Many considered him the founder of St. Paul's. Just six months later, Rev. Cobbs was chosen to be a Bishop in Alabama.
First Building and Growth
Later in 1844, the church leaders, called the vestry, bought a small brick church building. It was a Methodist church located on Court Place. They paid $500 for it. This old building was about 30 feet wide and 40 feet long. Its side walls were 11 feet high.
In 1845, St. Paul's officially joined the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky. This was an important step for the new church.
Building the Current Church
The cornerstone for the church building you see today was laid in 1871. It was built on the same spot as the old brick Methodist church. J. R. Neff designed this new building. It quickly became a well-known 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 $19,000 to over $33,000. The church was officially dedicated in 1888. Even though more and more people joined the church, the leaders had to work hard to pay off the building's debt for many years.
Facing Challenges Together
St. Paul's Church and its members have faced many natural disasters. These include an earthquake in 1880. They also survived big floods from the Ohio River in 1884 and 1937. Strong tornadoes hit the area in 1915 and 1986. Through all these challenges, the church community stayed strong.
Famous People Who Worshipped Here
Some notable people have attended St. Paul's Church over the years. These include:
- General James Taylor Jr., who served in the War of 1812.
- Henry Stanbery, a lawyer who defended President Andrew Johnson during his impeachment trial in 1868.
- Brent Spence, who served in the United States Congress for 37 years. He was a lifelong member of the church.
St. Paul's Today
Today, St. Paul's Church has a lively and active group of members. The Very Reverend S. Matthew Young, SCP, is the current Rector, or head priest. 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 the Chaplain for the Newport Fire/EMS Department, Newport Police Department, and Fire Department Bellevue/Dayton.
The church has now regained its full parish status within the Episcopal Church. St. Paul's also helps the community in other ways. It runs the St. Paul's Food Pantry in Newport. This pantry helps hundreds of families each month by providing food. Holy Eucharist services are held at St. Paul's at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. They also have services on special holy days.
