St. Paul's Episcopal Church

A History of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Woodville

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Woodville has a rich and storied history, beginning with its first service in 1823. The church's early days were marked by a large and curious audience, many of whom were unfamiliar with the prescribed form of the Episcopal liturgy.

Early Years and Incorporation

Reverend Jas. A. Fox held the church's inaugural service on October 4, 1823, in the Woodville Court House. Services were so well-attended that a congregation was quickly organized with the intent of building a church. The cornerstone of the new building was laid in September 1824, and the first service was held there on April 10, 1825.

When the church petitioned the Mississippi Legislature for an Act of Incorporation, there was a slight mix-up. The petition requested the incorporation of "Wardens and Vestrymen" of St. Paul's Church, but the legislators were unfamiliar with this term. Instead, they incorporated the church's leaders as "Trustees" to match previous incorporations of other churches. This act was signed by Gerard C. Brandon, who was Lieutenant Governor at the time and later buried from the church in 1850.

Notable Events and People

A number of significant historical events and figures are connected to St. Paul's:

• First Ordination in Mississippi: In 1829, Rev. John P. Porter was ordained a priest in St. Paul's Church, marking the first ordination of a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Mississippi.
• Diocese of Mississippi: The church was one of four that met in 1827 to form the Diocese of Mississippi.
• Civil War: During the Civil War, St. Paul's donated its church bell to be melted down for cannon, a contribution made in response to an appeal from General Beauregard.
• Jefferson Davis: The former President of the Confederacy lived near Woodville as a youth and attended St. Paul's. His mother, Mrs. Jane Davis, was confirmed at the church in 1843.
• Lambeth Quadrilateral: John Burruss McGehee, a vestryman at St. Paul's in 1871, conceived the idea for the Lambeth Quadrilateral—a four-point platform for Christian unity that was eventually adopted by the Anglican Communion worldwide.

The Pilcher Pipe Organ

The church is home to a historic Pilcher Pipe Organ, which is believed to be one of the oldest of its kind in continuous use in America. Donated to the church in 1827 by Major A.M. Feltus, the organ was manufactured in London and assembled in Louisville, Kentucky. The organ was transported to Woodville via riverboat and then ox cart. It has approximately 660 pipes and was rebuilt in the early 1900s.