St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Richmond, Virginia)

St. Paul's Episcopal Church is an historic Episcopal church in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Located directly across the street from the Virginia State Capitol, it has long been a popular house of worship for political figures, including General Robert E. Lee and Confederate President Jefferson Davis[3] (earning it the nickname "the Cathedral of the Confederacy").[4]

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Image of St. Paul's Church in Richmond, Virginia, USA
Religion
Affiliation	Episcopal Church
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Active
Leadership	The Rev. Charlie Dupree, the Rev. Rainey Dankel, and the Rev. Ben Campbell
Year consecrated	1845
Status	Active
Location
Location	815 E. Grace St., Richmond, Virginia
State	Virginia
Geographic coordinates	37°32′24″N 77°26′07″W
Architecture
Architect(s)	Thomas Somerville Stewart
Style	Greek Revival
Completed	1845
Specifications
Direction of façade	northeast
Capacity	850
Materials
St. Paul's Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Virginia Landmarks Register
Richmond City Historic District
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Location	815 E. Grace St., Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates	37°32′23″N 77°26′7″W
Area	0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Built	1845 (1845)
Architect	Steward, Thomas B.
Architectural style	Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.	69000357[1]
VLR No.	127-0014
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 4, 1969
Designated VLR	November 5, 1968[2]
Website
https://www.stpaulsrva.org/

Other notable people associated with the church are Rev. Dr. Charles Minnigerode who led the church during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. The Right. Rev. John Shelby Spong, (now retired as bishop of the Diocese of Newark), began to attract national attention while rector of St. Paul's (1969–1976).

St. Paul's was built in 1845 as a branch of the Monumental Church, which had outgrown its building. The Greek Revival church was designed by Thomas Somerville Stewart and modeled largely on St. Luke's Church, now Church of St. Luke & the Epiphany.[5] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 as St. Paul's Church.[1]

The corner stone was laid on 10-Oct-1843 according to the St. Paul's History book.[6] Interestingly, we have not found said corner stone. Consecration was 11-Nov-1845.

The same book estimates the probable cost, before construction, as "not exceeding $53,500". That excludes the organ and lot. Later an approximation of $55,000 is given. Organ is estimated at $4,000 and lot was $6,000 and then an additional lot was added for $1,075. The book also reports that there were 804 sittings in the nave and 358 in the gallery for a total of 1162.