St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Churchyard
Also known as: See Also:Edenton Historic District
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Why it's listed
Set amid a shaded churchyard in Edenton, St. Paul's is a gable-roofed brick church laid in Flemish bond, with a square three-stage tower, an octagonal spire, and a rare semicircular apse laid in all-header bond. Work began in 1736 and dragged on for decades because of money shortages and disputes, with the building finally ready for the vestry in 1760. William Nichols rebuilt the badly decayed interior and added the spire in 1806-1809, and Frank Wills designed oak chancel furnishings in 1848. A fire in June 1949 destroyed the roof, galleries and spire, but the walls survived and earlier studies and stored furnishings allowed careful reconstruction. The church is described as the second oldest church building in North Carolina and the only colonial church still in regular parish use. Its churchyard, older than the church, holds the graves of colonial governors and other early leaders. Members of the congregation included Samuel Johnston, James Iredell Jr. and Joseph Hewes.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the second oldest church building in North Carolina and the only colonial church still in regular parish use, and one of only three surviving colonial churches in the state. It is notable for its Flemish bond brick walls, handsome entrances, square tower and rare semicircular apse in all-header bond. It is also tied to leading eighteenth-century figures and holds an early town burial ground.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75001248, listed May 29, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W. Church and Broad Sts., Edenton |
|---|---|
| County | Chowan County |
| Listed | May 29, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001248 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1736 to present (1700-1799 checked) |
| Architect / builder | William Nichols (1806-1809 interior renovation); Frank Wills (1848 chancel furnishings) |
| Architectural style | Colonial brick church related in form to colonial Virginia churches |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent; the church is in regular use and was rebuilt after a 1949 fire. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Edenton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.06183, -76.60911 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75001248.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14708175
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.