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St. Paul's Episcopal Church

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1889–1895, Frank Miles Day; 1912 parish hall, Lewis and Burnham. Clay St. at 7th St.
  • (Photograph by Mark Mones)
  • (HABS; Photograph by Richard Cheek)
  • (HABS; Photograph by Richard Cheek)
  • (Photograph by Karen Kingsley)
  • (Photograph by Karen Kingsley)
  • (Photograph by Karen Kingsley)
  • (Photograph by Karen Kingsley)
  • (Photograph by Karen Kingsley)

One of Virginia's most distinguished Richardsonian Romanesque buildings, this massive gray granite structure trimmed in brownstone features a prominent corner tower and a low broad arch defining the entrance. Bold massing and elemental forms give a sense of impregnability and solidity. Handsome opalescent stained glass windows by Lamb Studios highlight the open and colorful interior, with its recently restored stenciling. The church gains importance as an early example of the work of Philadelphia architect Day and may well be his first major church commission. Day, who later became president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a partner with Charles Z. Klauder, is remembered for his Collegiate Gothic work at Princeton and Cornell universities. A Lynchburg firm designed the attached stone parish hall in a sympathetic Romanesque vein. The church houses the city's oldest Episcopal parish.

Writing Credits

Author: 
Anne Carter Lee

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