St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Royalton, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of Bridge St. and VT 14, Royalton, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1836 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000214 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 2001 |
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a very old and special building in Royalton, Vermont. It stands where Bridge Street meets Vermont Route 14. Built in 1836, it's a great example of a building style called Gothic Revival. It's also one of the oldest public buildings still standing in Royalton's historic village. Today, it's no longer used as a church. The Royalton Historical Society now takes care of it. This historic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a one-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboards. The building sits on a strong stone foundation.
The Tower and Entrance
A tall, square tower sticks out from the front of the church. This tower has three levels. At the very top, it has a flat roof with a wide, decorative edge. Below that, the bell section has arched openings that look like Gothic windows. The main door to the church is at the bottom of this tower. It has columns on each side and a decorative top. Above the main door, there is a small, special window called a trinity window.
Inside the Church
Even though the church isn't used for religious services anymore, it still has many cool features from the 1800s. You can see special patterns painted on the walls and along the ceiling edges. There's also a pipe organ from the 1840s. It was built by William Nutting, Jr., who taught himself how to make organs. The church also has old kerosene light fixtures. Many of the colorful stained-glass windows were added in the 1880s. This was when the inside of the church was updated to fit the popular styles of that time.
History of St. Paul's Church
The church was built in 1836. Its design was likely based on plans from John Henry Hopkins. He was the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. He was also one of the first people to really like and promote the Gothic Revival style of building.
Changes Over Time
The church congregation, or group of people who attended, was always quite small. They often shared a minister with other churches nearby. In the early 1970s, there was a plan to close the church, but people in the community spoke up and stopped it. However, the church was finally closed by the diocese in 1996.
The Church Today
After it closed, the Royalton Historical Society bought the building. They now take care of it. The society uses the old church as a place for community events and activities. It helps people learn about the history of Royalton.
See Also
