History

In 1832, the Rev. John Batchelder of Trinity Church in Jacksonville, Illinois began holding occasional services in Springfield for a handful of Episcopalians. By June of 1835, Philander Chase, newly elected Bishop of Illinois, heard that this small group desired to organize a parish and secure the services of clergy. On June 19, 1835, nineteen persons organized themselves as the "Parish of St. Paul's, Springfield." Bishop Chase gave them his apostolic blessing, leaving his nephew, the Rev. Deacon Samuel Chase in charge of the new congregation.

Services initially were held in Presbyterian, Methodist and Christian houses of worship as the small congregation began to grow. Services were also held in the State Supreme Court Chamber at the behest of the Honorable Samuel L. Treat, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois and one of the 19 organizers of the parish. In the summer of 1838, work began on the first St. Paul's, situated on Washington Street between Third and Fourth Streets.

The Reverend Charles Dresser, the first Rector, lived in a one-story frame house on Eighth Street, later purchased by Abraham Lincoln. It was Rev. Dresser who performed the Lincoln-Todd marriage. The parochial register, noting the marriage, survives to this day.

By 1846 the congregation had grown to a point where a larger building was necessary. The new edifice, built at Fourth and Adams, was consecrated by Bishop Chase on June 24, 1848, and served as the church home until 1912.

In 1908 it was decided to once again seek a new location. Property at the corner of Second and Lawrence was purchased for $10,000 and construction begun. On May 13, 1913, the third St. Paul's was consecrated by the Right Reverend Edward Osborne, second Bishop of Springfield.