ST. PAUL'S - A HISTORIC CHURCH
St. Paul's is recognized as the first church established in Sacramento, California. In 1849 the Gold Rush brough hundreds of fortune seekers then thousands into town and up to the Mother Lode. Yes, the saloons and merchants established their businesses to profit from the trade first but town citizens quickly recognized the need and desirabily to address spiritual matters. The Vicar of Trinity Church, San Francisco (the first Episcopal Church west of St. Louis) was called to conduct the first formal service August 16, 1849. The congregation met in a blacksmith's shop. St. Paul's first church building was of wood near the river. Floods and other forces made the congregation realize they needed a more permanent establishment on higher grown. The town's grid of lettered and numbered streets was laid out, statehood was achieved, the new state capital was built at 12th and L, the governor's mansion was constructed at 16th and H, and St. Paul's cornerstone was laid in 1903 midway at 15th and J. Five years later construction was completed - solid granite stone this time. The stained glass windows were huge then and even today. They are world class: above the altar the Christ surrounded by the Apostiles, to the west St. Cecilia the patron saint of musicians, and to the east the Stanford Memorial Window, a mother's gift upon the loss of the Stanford's only son Leland Jr. These last two are in the style of Louis Comfort Tiffany.
To this day St. Paul's remains a center of the Historic Faith. Once on the edge of town now right in the center of Sacramento. We proclaim the Good News of God in Jesus Christ. We are an open, loving Christian community striving to fulfill our mission through worship, education, and service. Visit, worship, and proclaim the Good News! For a photograph or two and additional information please visit our new website www.4stpaulssacramento.org.
THE PERFORMING ARTS AT ST. PAUL'S
Since 1908 when the chuch at it's present location opened its doors for services, St. Paul's has been a center for the arts. The builings design is classic stone gothic, the windows are some of the best in the West, and the interior is suitable for concerts. St. Cecilia Guild, the Arts Steering Committee, administers a varied program of music to the glory of God outside of the traditional church service. Information and a schedule may be found by visiting http://arts.sacbee.com/112/.
