History
Nuturing our Faith ....
St. Paul's has been serving the people of Montgomery County and the Kensington community since 1885. Well known for our warm fellowship, St. Paul's provides nurture for the spiritually hungry and ministers to the community in Christ's name.
Our vision began in 1884...
Through our consecration and devotion to Christ and His Church, may the history that we have made, and are now making be a source of great blessing to those who are yet to be.THE BEGINNING
The history of St. Paul's United Methodist Church is both interesting and intriguing. A school house, a barn, and services held on lawns are striking features which are part of the early history of this church.
Prior to 1884, the Methodists of this area congregated in a school house which was located at the intersection of what is now University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road. For want of suitable facilities, within the community of Knowles (later to be called Kensington), the first local services conducted by Methodists were held on the lawns of interested persons.
Among those enthusiastic for the church was Mr. William H. Wheatley. Finding the space provided by his home too confining, Mr. Wheatley arranged for services to be conducted in his large barn. Here worshippers sat on benches and sang to the accompaniment of an organ which was carried from the house.
At the same time, there came to the community Dr. R.B. Derrick, a devout churchman with a rich hackground in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The combination of Mr. Wheatley and Dr. Detrick sparked the movement which culminated in the formation of the church.
THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING
In 1885, the church was officially established. This development produced a congregation with no place to worship and brought about prompt action to secure a church building. The formation of a building committee as trustees: William H. Wheatley, F.M. Fawcett, Benjamin Duvall, Dr. R.B. Detrick and George Duvall. Some of these names bring to mind certain streets that quite likely reflect the influence of these men in an earlier generation.
The church was erected on the corner of St. Paul Street and Bladensburg Road, now known as Plyers Mill Road, and the first service was held during November, 1885. The cost of this building project was $1,202.31, and the church was formally dedicated on May 30, 1886.
THE SECOND CHURCH BUILDING
Around 1895 the church was making arrangements to provide a more adequate church building to be erected on the same lot where the present church is located.
The church was completed at a cost of $5,000.00 and was dedicated in 1897. The former church building was later sold to Episcopalians who likewise used it as their first church in the community. This building has been modified and today is a private residence.
In 1922-23 an addition to the church building provided needed Sunday School facilities and a church kitchen. In 1926 a pipe organ was installed.
THE THIRD CHURCH BUILDING
Because of the rapid expansion of the community and the growth of the church, it became necessary to consider building expansion. The existing building was razed; the new church was completed and dedicated in November, 1953; and the Educational Building was completed in 1957.
THE PRESENT CHURCH BUILDING
Fire struck St. Paul's on May 3, 1966. Flames destroyed the Sanctuary; water and smoke ravaged other areas. From the ashes, however, a new St. Paul's would emerge, as the congregation determined to rebuild for the future. Some of the buildings were salvageable, and new building proceeded during the restoration of the old. The social hall, renamed Heavener Hall in memory of Rev. U.S.A. Heavener, the Educational unit, the Octagon room, and the soaring Sanctuary blended well into the landscaped site along Armory Avenue, Fawcett andMitchell Streets.
Ground-breaking for the new church followed a Benediction Service held in the charred Sanctuary in 1967. The resolution of St. Paul's officials and parishioners to bring beauty from ashes was symbolized in the consecration service of the new Sanctuary on November 10, 1968.
Rock Creek Circuit, of which the new church at Knowles (now Kensington) became a part, included West Georgetown, Tennlytown, Concord and Sligo, the latter being what is now the Woodside Methodist Church. At the Annual Conference held in March, 1887, Knowles and Sligo were detached from the Rock Creek Circuit to constitute the Silver Spring Circuit.
The first parsonage was provided for the Rev. William J. Thompson who was appointed to the charge in 1893. This was a rented house on what is now Metropolitan Avenue. With the appointment of the Rev. Robert N. Moore as minister in 1894, a house at the corner of St. Paul Street and Bladensburg Road (now Plyers Mill road) was rented until the new parsonage was built on a lot located at Fawcett and Mitchell Streets. The ministers of St. Paul's Church occupied this new parsonage over a period of fifty-eight years, from 1895-1953.