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The
history of how St. Paul United Methodist
Church came to be takes us back to an
Easter Sunday afternoon on April 21,
1867. On this day, a group of members
from the Trinity Methodist Episcopal
Church South (now Trinity United
Methodist Church, located across from the
Georgia State Capitol) began a mission at
the old army hospital on Fair Street for
wounded Civil War Veterans and their
families. Such a large number of
worshipers turned out for this Sunday
School service that soon there was
"standing room only" and the windows of
the hospital were opened wide so the
crowd gathered outside on the lawn could
join in the singing and hear the bible
stories. This special day marked the
early beginnings of St. Paul UMC.
 Soon after, in 1870, a new church
named St. Paul Methodist Episcopal South
was built on Hunter Street (now MLK, Jr.
Drive) and began with 63 members. After
the turn of the century, the congregation
had grown so large that they began
planning to build a new stone church in
the residential neighborhood of Grant
Park, the current location of St. Paul
UMC. Construction of the new church began
in 1906. The first service was held in
the new sanctuary in October of 1907 and
was attended by over 1,200 members. The
new church, constructed out of blocks of
granite, was built in the Neo-Romanesque
style and included intricate stained
glass windows depicting the Resurrection
and other biblical scenes. The large pipe
organ, still in use today after being
refurbished in the early 1990's, was
acquired from the Piedmont Cotton States
Exhibition in 1887. Interior details
include cove ceilings, decorative columns
and capitals, paneled woodwork, and
original heart pine wood floors.
 By 1921, St. Paul ME had 2,345
members all living within walking
distance to the church. In the late
1920's the three-story brick education
building was added for Sunday School
classes and group meals. Throughout the
1930's and into the 1940's the Grant Park
neighborhood thrived and was considered
one of the best middle class
neighborhoods in the city. At the end of
World War II in 1945, there was a
national trend for families to move away
from the cities into the suburbs, which
began the decline of the area. Major
construction of Interstate 20, 75/85, and
the stadium claimed more homes and
displaced families, virtually cutting
Grant Park in half and sending more
long-time residents to the suburbs. By
the early 1970's, one member described
Grant Park as a "neighborhood of sinking
ships." But the resilient spirit of St.
Paul UMC and the neighborhood shined
through these days as "urban pioneers"
began moving into the area, attracted by
the unique old homes and historical charm
of Grant Park. This diverse new community
fearlessly began tackling community
issues like crime and education, and soon
began turning the neighborhood around
into the thriving place it is today.
 In 1980, The Grant Park Learning
Center was formed to provide childcare to
families in the area, and was housed in
the St. Paul UMC education building. In
1985 a predawn fire razed this building,
and the congregation and community
rallied together to rebuild the Learning
Center which was completed in 1987. In
the early 1990's the sanctuary was in
need of renovation, most apparent by the
falling plaster over the heads of the
congregation. Face with closing the
church for good or raising repair funds,
the small congregation chose to raise the
needed funds to keep the doors of St.
Paul UMC open. Repairs began in the
spring of 1991 with a new roof,
refinishing walls, floors, and pews, and
reworking areas of the sanctuary to fit
the church's new space needs for meeting
areas. The lettering frieze around the
ceiling perimeter was selected by the
congregation and painted by church
members. In April of 1994 the work was
complete and the congregation resumed
worship on Palm Sunday. Ongoing
restoration projects continue as members
of the congregation preserve the beauty
and history of St. Paul UMC. |
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::Rev. Susan Allen Grady, Pastor
::Doug Hollis, Family Life Minister
::Kevin Hill, Minister of Music
::Jonathan Deloach, Organist
::Ginny Pavey, Office Manager
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