St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Newport, Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
St. Paul's Episcopal Church built in 1871 is an historic Episcopal church located at 7 Court Place at York Street
in Newport
, Kentucky
. On November 25, 1980 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
, who was then rector of St. Paul's Church in Cincinnati. He helped "the Church-minded people in Newport" to organize their new congregation and the vestry considered him to be St. Paul's founder. Six months later the Rev. Mr. Cobbs was elected Bishop of Alabama
.http://www.diolex.net/stpauls/history.html
Later in 1844, the vestry
bought the small Methodist brick church building on Court Place for $500. The "Methodist Meeting House was 30x40 feet, with side walls 11 feet high". In the front of the Methodist Church interior of the building there was a low gallery, without handrails, for the use of slaves, who came to meetings with their masters."
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kycampbe/newportmethodist.htm
In 1845 St. Paul's was admitted into union with the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky
. In June, 1871 the cornerstone of the present St. Paul's was laid on the site of the old brick Methodist church. It is a Kentucky landmark designed by J.R. Neff.http://www.gototown.com/cgi-bin/listestab.cgi?est_id=1662 On a Sunday in August 1873, the bell in the tower first summoned parishioners to Morning Prayer.
The cost of construction rose from $19,452 to over $33,000; the church was consecrated in 1888. Although the congregation continued to grow (by 1894 it was the largest parish in the Diocese), the vestry struggled with debt well into the twentieth century. The church and its people have weathered natural disasters of every magnitude, including an earthquake in 1880, the record-breaking Ohio River floods of 1884 and 1937, and the tornadoes of 1915 and 1986.
Here worshipped Gen. James Taylor Jr., War of 1812
; Henry Stanbery
, who defended President Andrew Johnson
at his impeachment
trial, 1868; Brent Spence
, 37 years in the United States Congress
, a lifetime member.
Today, St. Paul's has an active congregation. The Reverend S. Matthew Young serves as Vicar.
York Street Historic District
The York Street Historic District in Newport, Kentucky was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 26, 1995. Most of the buildings were built in the mid and late Victorian era...
in Newport
Newport, Kentucky
Newport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. On November 25, 1980 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The church was founded on Easter Sunday in 1844, with the assistance of the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hamner CobbsNicholas Hamner Cobbs
Bishop Nicholas Hamner Cobbs was minister and evangelist of the Episcopal church. He was born in Bedford County, Virginia, on 5 February, 1796. Cobbs was raised a Presbyterian and educated privately. He was subsequently confirmed an Episcopalian and ordained a deacon on the same day, May 23,...
, who was then rector of St. Paul's Church in Cincinnati. He helped "the Church-minded people in Newport" to organize their new congregation and the vestry considered him to be St. Paul's founder. Six months later the Rev. Mr. Cobbs was elected Bishop of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.http://www.diolex.net/stpauls/history.html
Later in 1844, the vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
bought the small Methodist brick church building on Court Place for $500. The "Methodist Meeting House was 30x40 feet, with side walls 11 feet high". In the front of the Methodist Church interior of the building there was a low gallery, without handrails, for the use of slaves, who came to meetings with their masters."
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kycampbe/newportmethodist.htm
In 1845 St. Paul's was admitted into union with the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky
Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky
The Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the western half of the state of Kentucky. The diocese, which originally comprised all of Kentucky, consecrated its first bishop, the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, in 1832...
. In June, 1871 the cornerstone of the present St. Paul's was laid on the site of the old brick Methodist church. It is a Kentucky landmark designed by J.R. Neff.http://www.gototown.com/cgi-bin/listestab.cgi?est_id=1662 On a Sunday in August 1873, the bell in the tower first summoned parishioners to Morning Prayer.
The cost of construction rose from $19,452 to over $33,000; the church was consecrated in 1888. Although the congregation continued to grow (by 1894 it was the largest parish in the Diocese), the vestry struggled with debt well into the twentieth century. The church and its people have weathered natural disasters of every magnitude, including an earthquake in 1880, the record-breaking Ohio River floods of 1884 and 1937, and the tornadoes of 1915 and 1986.
Here worshipped Gen. James Taylor Jr., War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
; Henry Stanbery
Henry Stanbery
Henry Stanbery was an American lawyer and Presidential Cabinet member.Born in New York, he was the son of Jonas Stanbery, a physician. The family moved to Zanesville, Ohio in 1814. Henry Stanbery graduated from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania and studied law...
, who defended President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
at his impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
trial, 1868; Brent Spence
Brent Spence
right|300px|thumb|Group of legislators leaves [[White House]] after asking [[Franklin Roosevelt]] for $80,000,000 for flood control in [[Ohio Valley]], March 7, 1938. front: l-r [[Joseph A. Dixon]], [[James G. Polk]], [[Eugene B. Crowe]], [[George William Johnson |G W Johnson]], [[Lawrence E....
, 37 years in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, a lifetime member.
Today, St. Paul's has an active congregation. The Reverend S. Matthew Young serves as Vicar.
