- Church of St. Paul's, K Street (Washington, D.C.)
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This article is about St. Paul's Parish, K Street (Washington, D.C.). For St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rock Creek Parish (D.C.), see St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rock Creek Parish (Washington, D.C.).
The Interior of St. Paul's Parish, decorated for Christmas
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 Carwithan townhouses that were adjacent to the church.
On November 21, 2010, a Benedictine monastery associated with the parish was opened. One monk and one nun were clothed as novices in the Benedictine Companions of St. Paul, a Benedictine community, praying the seven Liturgical Offices daily. It is located in a townhouse behind the church building, and offers four of the offices publicly in the church each day.
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), a choir of men and boys, and a girls choir.
The current rector is the Revd Father Andrew Sloane and the current vicar is the Revd Father Nathan J.A. Humphrey SCP.
St. Pauls' sister-parish is St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge in London, England.
Rectors
Rector Years as Rector 1. Augustus Jackson 1866–1880 2. William Barker (bishop) 1881–1887 3. Alfred Harding 1887–1907 4. Robert Talbot 1909–1923 5. Arlington A. McCallum 1924–1949 6. James Richards 1949–1973 7. James R. Daughtry 1974–1989 8. Richard Cornish Martin 1989–1996 9. Andrew L. Sloane 1998–present Services
Sundays
- Morning Prayer 7:30 AM
- Low Mass 7:45 AM
- Sung Mass 9:00 AM
- Solemn Mass 11:15 AM
- Solemn Evensong and Benediction 6:00 PM
Weekdays (Monday through Friday)
- Morning Prayer 6:45 AM
- Low Mass 7:00 AM
- Confession 5:00 - 5:30 PM (Wednesdays)
- Devotions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham 5:30 PM
- Evening Prayer 5:45 PM
- Low Mass 6:00 PM
Saturdays
- Morning Prayer 9:15 AM
- Low Mass 9:30 AM
- Confession 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
- Devotions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham 5:30 PM
- Evening Prayer 5:45 PM
Schedule current as of October 31, 2008.
External links
Categories:- Anglo-Catholicism
- Episcopal churches in Washington, D.C.
- Christianity in Washington, D.C.
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