St. Paul’s has a long and rich history. Easter Monday, 21 March 1741, marks the formal organization of our parish, when a group of citizens of Wallingford and the surrounding communities met to select wardens and vestrymen. In September 1761, the new name of St. Paul’s was formally adopted.
In recent years, as part of the work of racial reconciliation and healing that God has called us to do, we have undertaken a closer study of our church’s history, particularly as it relates to chattel slavery. Prominent clergy and members of our church enslaved Black men and women, and the proceeds of their labor were used to finance and support this parish. Enslaved Black people were part of our parish as well, and we have begun to identify them and learn more about their lives. Through our research as well as outreach efforts, we hope to tell a fuller and more inclusive story about our historic parish. To learn more about this ongoing work, please visit the Racial Justice page.
In recent years, as part of the work of racial reconciliation and healing that God has called us to do, we have undertaken a closer study of our church’s history, particularly as it relates to chattel slavery. Prominent clergy and members of our church enslaved Black men and women, and the proceeds of their labor were used to finance and support this parish. Enslaved Black people were part of our parish as well, and we have begun to identify them and learn more about their lives. Through our research as well as outreach efforts, we hope to tell a fuller and more inclusive story about our historic parish. To learn more about this ongoing work, please visit the Racial Justice page.