Parish History
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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church began as a mission Sunday School in 1866. The formative meeting of the church body, in which officers and vestrymen were elected, was held in August of 1868. The church began meeting in the Blow School and then Lafayette Hall until the original wooden church building was completed in 1876. Located near the intersection of present-day Minnesota Avenue and Soper Street, it was built on a plot of land donated by Henry T. Blow, a prominent Carondelet industrialist, U.S. Ambassador, and Congressional Representative. St. Paul’s was issued its document of incorporation on January 12, 1871.
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Original St. Paul's Church, at Minnesota Ave. and Soper Street, built in 1876.
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After the Louisiana Purchase raised questions about land ownership (the real land owners lived in Baltimore and demanded an unreasonable price), the church moved to its current location on Michigan Avenue in 1890. Still, in the early 1900s, the Rev. Fred Gowenlock had the trouble of persuading another land owner to relinquish a former French claim that cut across the church property. Rev. Gowenlock was also responsible for selecting the English Gothic style of architecture of the current building, with the cornerstone being laid in 1911. The new church was completed in 1912 costing $14,000, double what had been budgeted. The church was cleared of debt in 1924 and consecrated by the bishop in 1925.
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New St. Paul's Church on Michigan Ave., consecrated in 1925.
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The principal concerns of the parish during the late 1930s and early 1940s was the physical and financial improvement of the church. However, their attention was soon to be directed to the United States' commitment in World War II. Several young seminarians attached to the cathedral staff served at St. Paul's the required year prior to becoming chaplains. Thus in their own small way, St. Paul's helped "praise the Lord and pass the ammunition." On March 13, 1949, Eleanor Roosevelt visited St. Paul's as a guest of Bishop William Scarlett. The bishop was conducting a confirmation service and Mrs. Roosevelt was the bishop's house guest for the weekend.
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Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited St. Paul's as a guest of Bishop William Scarlett.
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In the process of surveying the church grounds in preparation for building the parish hall in 1951, Edward Kinsey, an outstanding south St. Louis engineer and local historian, discovered that on our church grounds was located the exact spot from which the original survey of Carondelet was made. This spot marked the southeast corner of the common field of Carondelet. A cut stone marker was later donated to be placed on the church lawn to mark this historic location.
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Cornerstone at St. Paul's, marking the original survey of Carondelet.
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St. Paul's parish hall, added in 1952.
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St. Paul's Memorial Garden, dedicated in the spring of 1987.
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Solar panels installed on the roof of the parish hall in 2021.
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More Historic Details from the Archives
St. Paul's history has been recorded in various publications over time. Susan Rehkopf, retired archivist for the Diocese of Missouri, provided several photos and documents that give descriptive details our church's past. We encourage you to download these files to get a closer look:
St. Paul's history has been recorded in various publications over time. Susan Rehkopf, retired archivist for the Diocese of Missouri, provided several photos and documents that give descriptive details our church's past. We encourage you to download these files to get a closer look:
- The Church News
Details through the 1920s - St. Paul's Episcopal Church 1866-1966
Special publication for church centennial - The Interim, March 1981
Article published in diocesan newspaper
Neighborhood History
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is located in the historic Carondelet neighborhood, which is in the southeast corner of the City of St. Louis.
Carondelet was originally founded in 1767 and called Louisburg in honor of King Louis XV of France, and then Prarie a Catalan, after one of the settlers, Louis Catalan. Finally in 1794, it was named Carondelet in honor of Baron Francois Louis Hector de Carondelet, a Fleming appointed by the Spanish governor of Louisiana.
In 1803, when Louisiana was purchased from France by the U.S., it was a hamlet of 50 homes and 250 people. In 1826, Carondelet sold 1,700 acres to the U.S. for Jefferson Barracks at a cost of $5. In 1832, Carondelet became an official town and, in 1851, a city. In 1870, the City of St. Louis annexed what had become the booming industrial city of Carondelet.
The Carondelet neighborhood, to this day, maintains a strong sense of community pride due to its rich history, architecture, and ethnic diversity that included French, German, Irish, African, Spanish, British, Italian, and Polish settlers.
Residents wishing to preserve the heritage of Carondelet founded the Carondelet Historical Society in 1967. Plaques have been placed at more than 45 sites of historic significance throughout the neighborhood. A collection of historical documents, books, furniture, and other items are maintained at the Carondelet Historic Center, operating out of what was once the Des Peres School, where the first public school kindergarten appeared in the U.S.
Perhaps this historic neighborhood's most well-known feature is Carondelet Park, which was established in 1875. Carondelet Park is the third largest park in St. Louis. It boasts a beautiful boathouse, a fantastic rec-center and pool, walking paths, tennis courts, ball fields, horseshoe pits, playgrounds and more. The park is just a few blocks from St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Learn more about Carondelet history and Carondelet Park:
Carondelet was originally founded in 1767 and called Louisburg in honor of King Louis XV of France, and then Prarie a Catalan, after one of the settlers, Louis Catalan. Finally in 1794, it was named Carondelet in honor of Baron Francois Louis Hector de Carondelet, a Fleming appointed by the Spanish governor of Louisiana.
In 1803, when Louisiana was purchased from France by the U.S., it was a hamlet of 50 homes and 250 people. In 1826, Carondelet sold 1,700 acres to the U.S. for Jefferson Barracks at a cost of $5. In 1832, Carondelet became an official town and, in 1851, a city. In 1870, the City of St. Louis annexed what had become the booming industrial city of Carondelet.
The Carondelet neighborhood, to this day, maintains a strong sense of community pride due to its rich history, architecture, and ethnic diversity that included French, German, Irish, African, Spanish, British, Italian, and Polish settlers.
Residents wishing to preserve the heritage of Carondelet founded the Carondelet Historical Society in 1967. Plaques have been placed at more than 45 sites of historic significance throughout the neighborhood. A collection of historical documents, books, furniture, and other items are maintained at the Carondelet Historic Center, operating out of what was once the Des Peres School, where the first public school kindergarten appeared in the U.S.
Perhaps this historic neighborhood's most well-known feature is Carondelet Park, which was established in 1875. Carondelet Park is the third largest park in St. Louis. It boasts a beautiful boathouse, a fantastic rec-center and pool, walking paths, tennis courts, ball fields, horseshoe pits, playgrounds and more. The park is just a few blocks from St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Learn more about Carondelet history and Carondelet Park: