Country United States Churchmanship Anglo-Catholic Dedication St. Paul the Apostle Phone +1 202-337-2020 Architect Philip H. Frohman | Denomination Episcopal Website stpauls-kst.com Opened 1948 Status Parish church | |
 | ||
Location K Street, Washington, D.C. Address 2430 K St NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA Similar St Paul's Episcopal Church, Church of the Ascensio, Episcopal Diocese of Washington, St John's Episcopal Church - L, Saint Stephen Martyr Ca Profiles | ||
St. Paul's Parish, K Street is a parish of the Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. It is known for being one of the earlier Anglican Catholic churches in the United States.
Contents
History
St. Paul's Parish was founded in 1866 with the building of its first church at Washington Circle, where the congregation worshipped until the end of World War II. As a new hospital for George Washington University was planned to be built nearby, the government bought the property and the old building was closed at the end of 1944.
On new property on K Street, purchased by the church, the architect Philip H. Frohman was engaged to design a new building. During a prolonged period of construction, the parish worshiped at St Thomas Church near Dupont Circle. The first service was held in the new church in June 1948. Numerous additions of stained glass windows and appropriate religious adornments had been added in the intervening years. In 1966, St. Paul's celebrated its centenary with a liturgy of consecration. On October 5, 2008, the newly expanded parish hall was dedicated by the Bishop of Washington, John Chane. The new parish house incorporated the Gray and Carwithen townhouses that were adjacent to the church.
St. Pauls' sister-parish is St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge in London, England.
Traditions
From its founding, St. Paul's has been noted for being in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism. The first vested choir in Washington and the first "choral service" were led by the first processional cross in the old church. Its "Midnight Mass" of 1870 was perhaps the first in the United States in an Anglican church. The Eucharist has been celebrated daily since before 1900, with the use of vestments before that. The parish was also one of the first churches to use envelopes for offerings.
The church is known for its music program, which is considered one of the best in the country. Its choirs include the parish choir (with a professional core) and choirs of boys and girls. Previous directors of music include Jeffrey Smith, Mark Dwyer, and Robert McCormick.
Rectors
Following the retirement of the Rev'd Andrew L. Sloane in January 2013, the priest in charge was the Rt Rev'd James Jelinek as interim rector. In May 2015 the vestry of St. Paul's announced the election of the Rev'd Richard David Wall as rector.
Pipe organ
The organ of 51 stops and 66 ranks was built in 1996 by American organ builder Schoenstein & Co.