Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site
Encyclopedia
Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site is a United States
National Historic Site
located in Mount Vernon, New York
, just north of the New York City borough
of The Bronx
. The site was authorized in 1978 to protect Saint Paul's Church from increasing industrialization of the surrounding area. Saint Paul's Church was one of New York's oldest parishes and was used as a military hospital after the American Revolutionary War
Battle of Pell's Point
in 1776. The 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) cemetery surrounding the church is also within the historic site and contains an estimated 9,000 burials dating from 1704.
that founded Saint Paul's Church was established in 1665. The first church at the site was a small, square, wooden structure built in 1695 and was known as the Church of Eastchester. The present day church was built in 1764 but the name was not changed to Saint Paul's Church until 1795.
On October 18, 1776, the Revolutionary War Battle of Pell's Point was fought less than a mile from the church, and the church served as a hospital for the British Army
following the battle. The church's tower contains a bell that was cast in 1758 at the same foundry as the Liberty Bell
. As the fighting began to move closer to the church, George Washington
ordered the parishioners to bury the bell to prevent the British from melting it down and using it for ammunition. The bell still hangs in the tower today.
During the early part of the 20th century, the parish began to decline and the last Sunday service held at Saint Paul's took place in May 1977.
It was designated as a National Historic Site
on July 5, 1943 although not formally authorized until November 10, 1978.
Today, visitors can visit the church and the 225-year-old church tower on ranger-guided tours. A carriage house
next to the church now serves as a museum and visitor center
. The site was opened to the public in 1984 and is now operated by the National Park Service
under a cooperative agreement with the Society of the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights at Saint Paul's Church, Eastchester.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Historic Site
National Historic Sites (United States)
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
located in Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
, just north of the New York City borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. The site was authorized in 1978 to protect Saint Paul's Church from increasing industrialization of the surrounding area. Saint Paul's Church was one of New York's oldest parishes and was used as a military hospital after the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
Battle of Pell's Point
Battle of Pell's Point
The Battle of Pell's Point , also known as the Battle of Pelham, was a skirmish fought between British and American troops during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
in 1776. The 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) cemetery surrounding the church is also within the historic site and contains an estimated 9,000 burials dating from 1704.
History of Saint Paul's Church
The parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
that founded Saint Paul's Church was established in 1665. The first church at the site was a small, square, wooden structure built in 1695 and was known as the Church of Eastchester. The present day church was built in 1764 but the name was not changed to Saint Paul's Church until 1795.
On October 18, 1776, the Revolutionary War Battle of Pell's Point was fought less than a mile from the church, and the church served as a hospital for the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
following the battle. The church's tower contains a bell that was cast in 1758 at the same foundry as the Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
. As the fighting began to move closer to the church, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
ordered the parishioners to bury the bell to prevent the British from melting it down and using it for ammunition. The bell still hangs in the tower today.
During the early part of the 20th century, the parish began to decline and the last Sunday service held at Saint Paul's took place in May 1977.
It was designated as a National Historic Site
National Historic Sites (United States)
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
on July 5, 1943 although not formally authorized until November 10, 1978.
Today, visitors can visit the church and the 225-year-old church tower on ranger-guided tours. A carriage house
Carriage house
A carriage house, also called remise or coach house, is an outbuilding which was originally built to house horse-drawn carriages and the related tack.In Great Britain the farm building was called a Cart Shed...
next to the church now serves as a museum and visitor center
Visitor center
A visitor center or centre , visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally...
. The site was opened to the public in 1984 and is now operated by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
under a cooperative agreement with the Society of the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights at Saint Paul's Church, Eastchester.