The growth of commerce paralleled the establishment of organized religion as shop owners became founding members of a fledgling Episcopal congregation. The inaugural service was held in a tavern around 1826, and the congregation moved into a simple church in 1827. In 1868, the continued growth of central New York merited the creation of a separate diocese. The bishop envisioned a grand Episcopal church in Syracuse, leading to the construction of a Gothic Revival church in 1884. English-trained architect Henry Dudley designed the church using limestone quarried by laborers from the nearby Onondaga Nation. The 225-foot spire remains a defining feature of Syracuse’s skyline.

St. Paul’s prioritizes the development of healthy relationships and a safe community. The Adult Relationship Day Program supports community building for individuals lacking employment, family, or other social connections. The church hosts a weekly soup lunch for downtown workers and residents, provides performance space for music groups, collaborates with the YMCA senior program, and runs a free summer camp for children. Every week, the church welcomes 30 South Sudanese refugees to worship in their native language.

Through a $250,000 National Fund grant and $500,000 in matching funds raised by the congregation, St. Paul’s will repair and upgrade its parish house and church. Twelve thousand square feet of vacant space in the parish house will be converted into 11 mixed-income rental apartments. Accessibility will be prioritized through renovating bathrooms, installing an elevator, and creating a new entrance. Completion of this project will further the congregation’s vision for a “well-used facility that will be a vital and contributing asset to downtown Syracuse for another 130 years to come.”

St. Paul’s Syracuse, the Downtown Episcopal Church courtesy St. Paul’s Syracuse, the Downtown Episcopal Church