St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Exton, Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Exton, also known as St. Paul's Church, is a historic church at 1105 E. Lincoln Highway in Exton, Pennsylvania
in Chester County, Pennsylvania
, in the area known as the Great Valley
. It was built in 1828 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984 as St. Paul's Church. It is one of the 155 parish churches
of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
.
in continual existence, following Grove Methodist Church. It was built along the Lancaster Pike, the first turnpike in the United States, and a major route to the west from Philadelphia. The church is historically linked to St. David’s at Radnor, St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley
and Christ Church, of Greenville, Delaware
from the time when Episcopal churches in the area shared rectors.
The cornerstone laying ceremony in 1828 was of statewide significance, with John Andrew Shulze
, the Governor of Pennsylvania, attending, as well as Bishop William White
, Presiding Bishop of Pennsylvania, and of the Episcopal Church in the United States, and the Rev. Brinckle, rector of both St. Peter’s and St. David’s. The Great Valley was predominately Quaker in 1828, and about 75% of the founding members were of Quaker heritage. They may have changed religious membership because their participation in the United States military during or after the American Revolution
violated Quaker pacifist beliefs. Or they may left their Quaker roots because of the Separation of 1828 between Quaker Hicksite and Orthodox branches.
The Church Farm School
was founded as a farm and industrial school for boys in 1918 by the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Shreiner about 300 yards west of the church. From 1921–1948 Shreiner served as rector of St. Paul's, as well as Headmaster of the Church Farm School.
The Rectory was built in 1884 – 5. In 1928 the triplet window was replace by a window designed by the D’Ascenzo Studio of Philadelphia, donated by the Rev. W. L. Bull.
Exton, Pennsylvania
Exton is a census-designated place in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population was 4,842 at the 2010 census. The Exton Square Mall is located within Exton along with several other shopping centers, making Exton the major shopping district in Chester...
in Chester County, Pennsylvania
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, in the area known as the Great Valley
Great Valley (Chester County, Pennsylvania)
Great Valley is a west-to-east valley through the center of Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA. It is also sometimes referred to as Chester Valley, and both names are in use throughout the region. The valley stretches from the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County in the east, southwesterly...
. It was built in 1828 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984 as St. Paul's Church. It is one of the 155 parish churches
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing the counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware in the state of Pennsylvania....
.
History
Founded in 1828, St. Paul’s is the second oldest religious congregation in West Whiteland TownshipWest Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
West Whiteland Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,274 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which , or 0.15%, is water....
in continual existence, following Grove Methodist Church. It was built along the Lancaster Pike, the first turnpike in the United States, and a major route to the west from Philadelphia. The church is historically linked to St. David’s at Radnor, St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley
St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley
St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley is a historic Episcopal church near Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.The current stone church building was constructed in 1744 to replace an earlier wooden building. St. Peter's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.-External links:*...
and Christ Church, of Greenville, Delaware
Greenville, Delaware
Greenville is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 2,326 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Greenville is located at ....
from the time when Episcopal churches in the area shared rectors.
The cornerstone laying ceremony in 1828 was of statewide significance, with John Andrew Shulze
John Andrew Shulze
John Andrew Shulze was a Pennsylvania political leader and the sixth Governor of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Muhlenberg family political dynasty....
, the Governor of Pennsylvania, attending, as well as Bishop William White
William White (Bishop of Pennsylvania)
The Most Reverend William White was the first and fourth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA , the first Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania , and the second United States Senate Chaplain...
, Presiding Bishop of Pennsylvania, and of the Episcopal Church in the United States, and the Rev. Brinckle, rector of both St. Peter’s and St. David’s. The Great Valley was predominately Quaker in 1828, and about 75% of the founding members were of Quaker heritage. They may have changed religious membership because their participation in the United States military during or after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
violated Quaker pacifist beliefs. Or they may left their Quaker roots because of the Separation of 1828 between Quaker Hicksite and Orthodox branches.
The Church Farm School
Church Farm School
CFS, The School at Church Farm was founded as the "Church Farm School" in 1918 by the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Shreiner. Shreiner, an Episcopalian priest, established the school in Glen Loch, Pennsylvania, on U.S. Route 30 between Frazer and Exton, as a boarding school for boys from broken homes,...
was founded as a farm and industrial school for boys in 1918 by the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Shreiner about 300 yards west of the church. From 1921–1948 Shreiner served as rector of St. Paul's, as well as Headmaster of the Church Farm School.
Architecture
St. Paul’s was built in 1828-29 with major Gothic alterations added in 1872. It was built as a 44 foot x 60 foot one story structure with a plain gable roof. The pews formed around double aisles facing the pulpit at the south end between two doors which formed the main entrance. In 1872 the church was rebuilt keeping the same walls and roof. On the south façade a vestibule and spired bell tower were erected. The pulpit was moved to the north end and a 12’ X 17’ chancel with a triplet window was added there with two 12’ x 12’ rooms, a library and a robing room. New pews, which incorporated a pointed Gothic arch, faced north along a single central aisle. An organ gallery was added as well.The Rectory was built in 1884 – 5. In 1928 the triplet window was replace by a window designed by the D’Ascenzo Studio of Philadelphia, donated by the Rev. W. L. Bull.
See also
- Dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of AmericaDioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of AmericaThe Episcopal Church is governed by a General Convention and consists of 100 dioceses in the United States proper, plus ten dioceses in other countries or outlying U.S. territories and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, which is similar to a diocese....
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Chester County, PennsylvaniaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Chester County, PennsylvaniaFile:Map of Chester County Pennsylvania NRHP sites.PNG|thumb|right|Map of Chester County poly 77 194 71 185 77 176 100 130 101 113 100 100 97 89 128 71 187 24 216 5 222 7 229 4 237 3 253 11 258 15 262 13 262 9 264 8 277 32 278 34 282 33 281 30 282 26 286 26 289 35 291 43 300 50 300 55 298 58 299 63...