Sunday Worship 8 & 11 am · Details

  218 S. Second Street, Smithfield, NC 27577-4532  ·   919-934-2675  ·   Give

St. Paul's Smithfield
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Our History

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1903-1953.

In 1889, a small group of Episcopalians began meeting in private homes and public buildings in Smithfield, North Carolina.

In 1903, the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina bought the former Smithfield Baptist Church on the corner of Second and Church Streets. This wooden structure from 1835 was the oldest church in Smithfield.

St. Paul’s original church members – seldom more than eight to ten communicants and their families – worked hard to renovate the building, remove galleries where enslaved people once sat, carefully store its stained-glass windows, and pay off the purchase debt. On May 28, 1911, the church was consecrated.

1953

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, at the time of its completion in late 1953.

In 1946, the death of faithful parishioner Mary Hastings Lawrence brought a bequest of substantial funds to the church. The parish used the funds to hire their first full-time priest and to tear down the old wooden building and construct a new 200-seat, English Gothic brick-and-mortar church building and parish hall. The cornerstone was laid on August 30, 1953, and the new church was consecrated on March 7, 1954. Lawrence Hall and the Blandy Parlor, have subsequently dedicated to the family’s memory. In 1984, three stained-glass windows, salvaged from the original 1835 building, were installed in the south wall of Lawrence Hall.

Other additions include a bell cote, with a bell cast in France, that was added to the roof in 1987; a courtyard landscaped with a brick and wrought iron fence; a St. Francis Garden nestled along the colonnade walkway; and, in 1998, a new Zimmer pipe organ, with funds raised in a capital campaign. Parishioners donated land for a “backyard” that has been the site of many parish activities, from pancake races on Shrove Tuesday to summer picnics. In 2015 an outdoor labyrinth and memory garden was added.

San Jose Episcopal Mission, an outreach ministry to the county’s Hispanic/Latino residents – the fastest growing population in North Carolina – have shared our church facilities since 2004.

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For more of our history, see A History of St. Paul’s by parishioner David O. Stephens. Copies are available in the church office.

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Worship with Us

  • 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
  • 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Organ and Choral Music
  • Join our 11 a.m. online

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
218 S. Second Street
Smithfield, NC 27577-4532
919-934-2675

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Service Times

Worship with Us

  • 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
  • 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Organ and Choral Music

Watch our 11 a.m.live-streamed here or on Zoom


Location

St. Paul's Smithfield
218 S. Second Street
Smithfield, NC 27577-4532

Contact Us
919-934-2675

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Welcome What to Expect Leadership Labyrinth The Episcopal Church

Walk with Us: A Note from the Rector

“Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey.” (Luke 24:15)

Our lives are a journey that involve our whole selves, body, mind, and spirit. No matter where you are on your own path we invite you to find refreshment and community here at St. Paul’s. We know each individual's walk is unique, made at varying paces, on different schedules, with assorted luggage, and often requiring some form of assistance. It is our hope that we at St. Paul’s can walk with you, and our prayer that you will join us on the journey together.

Learn More

At St. Paul's we work to create a place of belonging. Belonging for us means that when you are here you are home. We hope you will find your home here, in all the ways home invites us to find comfort, lean into the love of family, and enjoy the peace of knowing we are where we're meant to be. Like any home there is always work to be done, food to be enjoyed, and good times to be had. So make yourself at home, find where you all called, and lean into our St. Paul's family. Whether you are attending your first ever Episcopal service or you “know the ropes,” every church is a little different. Here are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions. And if you still have more questions, just ask!


FAQs

As Episcopalians, we believe that all baptized people are called to minister in the Church. Everyone has a different role. Our clergy serve as the spiritual leaders of our congregation, our staff is responsible for overseeing our program ministries and day-to-day responsibilities, and our vestry is responsible for parish decision-making.

Meet Our Leadership

Labyrinths are ancient spiritual tools designed to assist one in prayer, meditation, reflection, and respite. All are welcome to enjoy and use our Labyrinth which is open to the public. Find out more about our labyrinth, seasonal walks, and the St. Paul’s Labyrinth/Meditation Garden Burial Guidelines.

Learn More

St. Paul's is a vibrant ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, which is one of the 109 dioceses of The Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

We following Jesus into loving, liberating and life-giving relationship with God, with each other and with the earth as the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement. We seek every day to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).

The Episcopal Church The Diocese of North Carolina

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

As faithful Christains, created in the image of God, we are called to care for this earth, for one another, and for the resources we have been endowed with by our Creator. One way of caring for all we have been given is finding ways to use our resources (time, talent, and treasure) to support and bless God’s work in the world. There are many ways we can give of our time, talent, and treasure. Giving of our treasure, financially, allows us at St. Paul’s to continue our work of ministry at St. Paul’s, in our Community, and in the world.

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