Church of St. Paul's, K Street (Washington, D.C.)
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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.
. 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.
Weekdays (Monday through Friday)
Saturdays
Schedule current as of October 31, 2008.
Episcopal Diocese of Washington
The Episcopal Diocese of Washington is the ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Episcopal Bishop of Washington in the United States. The territory comprises the District of Columbia and the Maryland counties of Charles, St. Mary's, Prince George's and Montgomery...
. It is known for being one of the earlier Anglican Catholic churches in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
St. Paul's Parish was founded in 1866 with the building of its first church at Washington CircleWashington Circle
Washington Circle is a traffic circle in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., United States. It is the intersection of 23rd Street, K Street, New Hampshire Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., on the border of the Foggy Bottom and West End neighborhoods. The through lanes of K Street...
, where the congregation worshipped until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As a new hospital for George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
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
Philip H. Frohman
Philip Hubert Frohman was an architect who is most widely known for his work on the Washington National Cathedral, named, the "Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul" in Washington, D.C...
was engaged to design a new building. During a prolonged period of construction, the parish worshiped at St Thomas Church near Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is a traffic circle, park, neighborhood, and historic district in Northwest Washington, D.C. The traffic circle is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, New Hampshire Avenue NW, P Street NW, and 19th Street NW...
. 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 AnglicanismAnglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
. 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in an Anglican church. The Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
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
Society of Catholic Priests
The Society of Catholic Priests is a religious society of clergy in the Anglican Communion which draws its membership from Anglicans who consider themselves a part of the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism.-Founding and early history:...
.
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 Alfred Harding (bishop) Alfred Harding was the second Episcopal Bishop of Washington. He was elected in 1909 to succeed the Right Rev. Henry Yates Satterlee, the founding bishop of the Diocese of Washington . Harding was de facto dean of the Cathedral from 1909 until 1916.-Biography:He was born on August 15, 1852 in... |
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 MassLow MassLow Mass is a Tridentine Mass defined officially in the Code of Rubrics included in the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal as Mass in which the priest does not chant the parts that the rubrics assign to him...
7:45 AM - Sung Mass 9:00 AM
- Solemn MassSolemn MassSolemn Mass , sometimes also referred to as Solemn High Mass or simply High Mass, is, when used not merely as a description, the full ceremonial form of the Tridentine Mass, celebrated by a priest with a deacon and a subdeacon, requiring most of the parts of the Mass to be sung, and the use of...
11:15 AM - Solemn EvensongEvening Prayer (Anglican)Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
and BenedictionBenedictionA benediction is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service.-Judaism:...
6:00 PM
Weekdays (Monday through Friday)
- Morning Prayer 6:45 AM
- Low Mass 7:00 AM
- ConfessionConfessionThis article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
5:00 - 5:30 PM (Wednesdays) - Devotions at the Shrine of Our Lady of WalsinghamOur Lady of WalsinghamOur Lady of Walsingham is a title used for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The title derives from the belief that Mary appeared in a vision to Richeldis de Faverches, a devout Saxon noblewoman, in 1061 in the village of Walsingham in Norfolk, England...
5:30 PM - Evening PrayerEvening Prayer (Anglican)Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
5:45 PM - Low Mass 6:00 PM
Saturdays
- Morning Prayer 9:15 AM
- Low Mass 9:30 AM
- ConfessionConfessionThis article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
10:00 AM to 10:30 AM - Devotions at the Shrine of Our Lady of WalsinghamOur Lady of WalsinghamOur Lady of Walsingham is a title used for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The title derives from the belief that Mary appeared in a vision to Richeldis de Faverches, a devout Saxon noblewoman, in 1061 in the village of Walsingham in Norfolk, England...
5:30 PM - Evening Prayer 5:45 PM
Schedule current as of October 31, 2008.