St. Paul's Episcopal Church

On the 4th of October 1823, Rev. Jas. A. Fox formed divine service and preached in the Court House in Woodville. Notice having been given, a large audience attended. Receiving an invitation shortly after to preach every third Sunday in Woodville, Mr. fox commenced preaching statedly in the Court House on Sunday, second of November following. The services of the church were well attended and a congregation organized who resolved to build a church forthwith. When the services of the church were first held in Woodville, their novelty attracted great crowds, many supposing that church services according to a prescribed form of Liturgy was a new invention.

On the 9th of September 1824, the frame of St. Paul's Church was raised and on the 10th of April 1825, divine service was performed in it for the first time.

An application was made by then Legislature for an Act of Incorporation. The petition was for the incorporation of the 'Wardens and Vestry men' of St. Paul's Church, Woodville, but the members of the Legislature, it was said, had not heard of such a corporation as 'Wardens and Vestrymen', moreover that Presbyterian churches and also the Episcopal Church at Natchez had by a former Legislature been incorporated under 'Trustees'; therefore while they very obligingly granted an act of incorporation, they took the liberty of altering the style of it, and the gentleman who were in the petition styled Wardens and Vestrymen, were in the act styled 'Trustees'. (From the Parish Register).

The Act of Incorporation was signed by Gerard C. Brandon, then Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi. On March 30, 1850, Governor Gerard C. Brandon was buried from St. Paul's.

The Rev. John P. Porter took charge of the congregation in March, 1829. He received a call to the Rectorship of Trinity Church, Natchez, but before leaving Woodville was admitted to Priests' orders in St. Paul's Church by the Rt. Rev. Bishop (Brownell) of Connecticut, then on a visitation to the churches of this region of the country.

This was the first ordination of a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Mississippi.

In 1827, the churches at Woodville, Natchez, Port Gibson and Church Hill met together and formed the Diocese of Mississippi and called the Rt. Rev. William Mercer Green II officiated at the Centennial Celebration of St. Paul's.

HISTORICAL NOTES

-The first Doctor of Divinity degree to be conferred by the University of Mississippi was granted to The Rev. Charles Reigjley, who was Rector of this Parish 1856-58.

-In the Parish Register are several long lists recording the baptism of slaves. Only the Christian names of the persons and the masters' names are given. Master and mistress stood as sponsors.

-At a called meeting on March 26, 1862, of the Rector, Warden and Vestry of St. Paul's Church, the following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted:

"Whereas an appeal has been made by General Beauregard, to the people of the Mississippi Valley for their bells that they may be melted into cannon for the defense of our wives and children, homes and property;

Resolved That we freely forward the bell of St. Paul's Church, Woodville, as a contribution from our Church which is willing to contribute all it has, and make any sacrifice in this sacred cause, hoping that it's gentle tones, that have so often called us to the House of God, may be transmuted into 'war's resounding rhyme', to repel the ruthless invader from the beautiful land, God, in his goodness has given us.
W.F. Adams, Rector
WM. Wright, Secretary.

This resolution was drafted by S.P. Drilling ham, Esq. All the churches in town thus gave their bells.

-By the record of the visitation of art. Rev. Wm M. green, D.D., in October 1964, is written "Yankee alarm during the visitation.-WFA."

-Jefferson Davis lived as a youth near Woodville and worshiped in St. Paul's Church. Several of his relatives were communicants of the Parish.

-A plaque commemorating the confirmation of his mother, Mrs. Jane Davis, by the Rt. Rev. Leonids Polk, D.D. On January 27, 1943, hangs in the church.

-John Burruss McGehee, Vestryman in 1871, was the man who conceived the Lambeth Quadrilateral. He became convinced that the Protestant Episcopal Church ought to state the platform on which it would be willing to unite with other communities. This thought, he elaborated in a series of pamphlets setting forth four requisites, which were approved by the Diocesan Council of Louisiana and transmitted by them to the General Convention. Eventually, they were brought officially to the attention of the Lambethe Conference and the Anglican Bishops of the whole world, who adopted them, so that they are now the Lambeth Quadrilateral and the official statement of the position of the entire Anglican Communion (From the Parish records).

-The Rectory is not only ante-bellum but in it's original form, is believed to have been a plantation house standing when the Church was built in 1824.

THE ORGAN:

-The Pilcher Pipe Organ of the nineteenth century is said to be one of the best instruments of its kind in Amrica, and to be the oldest of its kind remaining in continuous use.

-Major A.M. Felt us presented the organ to St. Paul's in 1827. The Major had come to Woodville from Philidelphia, PA, and built the home now occupied by Dr. C.E. Catchings. He was a great lover of music, and it is believed that he purchased the organ for his own use but found it too large to be installed in his home and so donated it to St. Paul's.

-Our organ was manufactured by the Pilcher Organ Company, London, England. It was assembled at their branch factory at Louisville, KY., and shipped to Bayou Sara by riverboat. It was then transported to Woodville by ox cart.

-There are approximately 660 pipes, toned to the human voice and to the orchestral instruments they represent. In the early 1900's, the organ was rebuilt and the congregation was assured that it would last another hundred years.