Stories: Sestercentennial- Recognizing the 250th Anniversary of St. Paul's Church

A recent interior image of St. Paul's Church, reflecting the restoration in 1942 of the original 1787 appearance.

NPS

The following stories are told in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the 1763 beginning of construction of St. Paul's Church:

An exploration of the historical significance and religious importance of four wooden tablets installed at St. Paul's in 1848. They remain on display at the church.

An account of the long and circuitous route of an oak chair -- assembled in England in the 17th century -- to St. Paul's Church, in the early 20th century, illiminating themes of religion, business, family and women in American history.

Read about the the story of history, commemoration and religion behind a pair of wooden models of St. Paul's constructed in 1865. They remain on display at the church.

Explore the interesting story of the journey of a 19th century religious lamp from a synagogue in Germany to St. Paul's Church, and the themes of freedom of the press, freedom of religion and the meaning of World War II that led to the donation of the lamp to the church in 1944.

The Historic Erben Pipe Organ at St. Paul's -- one of the nation's oldest working pipe organs

Explore the history and changing understanding of the significance of the historic church bell at St. Paul's, which was cast in 1758, at the same London foundry as the famed Liberty Bell.

Tablet Recalls Sara D. Roosevelt’s Contribution to the Restoration of St. Paul’s Church

An End and a Beginning: St. Paul's, from Church to National Park site. Learn about the interesting story behind the transition of St. Paul's from a functioning church to a unit of the Park Service in 1980.

An account of the struggles to sustain religious practices in the early years of the St. Paul's parish -- a small community, lacking resources, operating on the edge of colonial settlement -- in the 1600s.

A chronicle of the story behind a small bronze plaque installed at St. Paul's in 1950 that commemorates the Underhills, a prominent local family, among the earliest colonial settlers of the area.

Explore the story of history and historical understanding behind a plaque that was installed in 1952 designating St. Paul's as a national historic site.