St. Paul's Church
Why it's listed
St. Paul's Church stands at the corner of Ninth and Grace Streets in Richmond, beside Capitol Square. It was built in the 1840s for a new congregation formed when many members of Monumental Episcopal Church chose to move west to a more convenient site. Philadelphia architect Thomas B. Stewart designed the stuccoed brick building, which was completed in 1845. A Greek Corinthian portico with eight columns marks the front, while the main body follows the form of a Roman temple. The interior has Corinthian columns around the choir and apse, original pews, a three-sided gallery and a plaster relief ceiling. A cast iron fence, also designed by the architect, surrounds the building. The church is valued as a rich example of Greek Revival design and for its connection to Confederate history. Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee both worshipped there, and Davis learned of the need to abandon Richmond during a service on April 2, 1865.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the church a masterpiece of the Greek Revival style, with richer detail and ornament than most Greek Revival buildings of its time. It also has historical associations with Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, and Davis received word of the need to evacuate Richmond while attending services there on April 2, 1865.
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 69000357, listed June 4, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 815 E. Grace St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | June 4, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000357 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1845 (19th century) |
| Architect / builder | Thomas B. Stewart of Philadelphia (architect) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, occupied and in religious use; the statement describes it as having remained a most active parish. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.53986, -77.43495 (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 69000357.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591122
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.