St. Paul's Episcopal Church

St. Paul's, the only protestant church on the Bass Islands in Lake Erie. Paul’s Church has offered a generous welcome to all Christians, inviting visitors and residents of all traditions to worship together.  Established in 1864, St. Paul's is the oldest congregation on the Bass Islands.  Our mission is to o Proclaim the Gospel, Encourage Growth and Welcome all people.  The church, built in 1865, has offered worship services continuously for more than 150 years.  In the summer months the church welcomes cottage owners and visitors who return for the summer season to join the island residents. 

One of the most memorable dates in St. Paul’s history was October 8th 1865 when there was a festive gathering for the first worship service held in the new church building and the baptism of Elizabeth Hollway whose parents were very involved in the early years.  She was presented with a silver cup by Mr. Jay Cooke who was Abraham Lincon's financiar for the Civil War.  Chief Justice Salmon Chase attended the service along with over 100 local residents.

After dreaming, planning and working for over 18 months, the Bass Islands’ first church was complete on October 8, 1865.  In July of 1864 residents started gathering with The Rev. John Mills Kendrick who had come to meet the islanders earlier in the spring and then moved to the island with his wife.  Initially they met in the one room school house.   On November 4, 1864, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church became a recognized parish of the Diocese of Ohio by an act of the General Convention.  The residents continued raising funds for a church throughout the winter.  The residents raised almost $650.00.  In the spring of 1865 Mr. Jay Cooke purchased the property and made a significant donation for construction of an Episcopal church.

Through the efforts and desires of the island’s residents and the generosity of Jay Cooke of Philadelphia, the owner of Gibraltar Island, the parishioners supervised the construction of a Carpenter Gothic style church following the pattern in Richard Upjohn’s 1852 book describing architectural plans for country churches.   Building started in May and finished in October of 1865.  For the first decade, until he became bankrupt, Mr. Cooke provided about 25% of the annual budget for St. Paul’s. 

St. Paul’s congregation and The Rev. S.R. Weldon the priest became immersed in the discussions of Episcopal prayer book revision of 1868-1872.  The doors remained open, following the traditions of the Episcopal Church, but the church members voted to become a Congregational Church in 1869 and then, a Reformed Episcopal Church in 1874.  St. Paul’s voted to return to the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Ohio in 1912 at the encouragement of Phillip Vroman, Senior Warden, and Laura Cooke Barney who was executor for her father's assets which included St. Paul's land, after her father’s death.  Laura transfered the land to the Episcopal Church after St. Paul's return to the Episcopal fold. 

The congregation established a flourishing church school under the supervision of Mrs. Anna McMeens from 1865 to her death in 1897.  Her legacy of education continues today.  Two kneelers and chairs were given to the church in her memory.  In 1902 Laura Cooke Barney gave the stained glass window above the altar reminding parishioners of Jesus’ call to follow and be fishers of all people.  The window, by Philadelphia stained glass artist Francis Drake Sweeney, honors Laura’s mother Dorothea Cooke.  Many of the sanctuary furnishings were presented by parishioners in 1912 to 1914 including the font, candle sticks, vases and book stand.  Additional stained glass in memory of Philip Vroman, Mathias Burggraf, Dr. Charles Linsky, and J.C. Oldt were added in 1920-1930.

St. Paul’s Church was the gathering place for Wa-Li-Ro Choirs, from 1933 to 1974.  The choir program was founded by Bishop of Ohio, Warren Lincoln Rogers and Rev. Mapes.  The program was led by Paul Beymer and Warren Miller for most of those years.  Their staff included an athletics director, housekeeper and the cook who the boys remember as “Mrs. G.”  Leo Sowerby, musical Pulitzer Prize recipient led the singing program for many years.  Each year, different well known organists, composers and choir directors from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom came to lead choir.  Thousands of choristers from across the United States attend the camp and sang at St. Paul’s over the years.

St. Paul’s participates in several ecumenical events each year including the annual blessing of the fleet, the island Thanksgiving service and a summer Vacation Bible Camp.  A food pantry located at St. Paul’s providing assistance to winter residents and summer employees with “no questions asked.”

St. Paul’s congregation continues to care for the 150+ year old church and the 55+ year old rectory.  The original 1865 house was replaced by a modular home built in 1959-1963.  The new home is known as "The Hartman House" in thanks for a significant contribution of Marylib Vroman Hartman, the granddaughter of Philip and Amelia Vroman.  The congregation received three other significant gifts from Hilda Lyman (1979), Mary Miller (1989), and Alice Rhea.  These gifts have helped the congregation maintain the historic building and to have clergy live on the island to minister to the congregation.

The steeple needed a second renovation which was completed in 2010.  A new weathervane was installed which is similar to the ones on Anglican churches in England.  Although the old weather vane lost its decorative top years ago, church records indicate the original was also a rooster. The top and weather vane were removed in 2009 during an inspection for safty reasons.  The origional steeple top is part of a display in the Put-in-Bay museum.  In recent years members of the congregation have presented the parish with new altar hangings and vestments.  The large chartres style brick labyrinth, another gift to the congregation, was placed on the front lawn in 2011-2012.  In 2014-2019 St. Paul's is participating in the Diocesan "Planting For Tomorrow" campaign to raise funds to sustain the parish.

St. Paul’s congregation strives to leave a lasting testament of faith and thanksgiving for future generations.  We celebrate our heritage of worship and service to Jesus Christ through the Eucharist, prayer, personal involvement in parish life and care for others in the community.  St. Paul’s congregation continues to work diligently to fulfill the parish mission: “to welcome all people, encourage Christian growth, and proclaim the Gospel by word and deed.”