TURNING 100!
By Amy Lee Carpenter, Director of Communications
100 years ago, as the world endured World War I, a small group of Louisville citizens worshipped together in a storefront on Dundee Road, on the outskirts of town and the congregation of St. Paul United Methodist Church (St. Paul Church) was born.
To mark the centennial, St. Paul Church has embarked upon a year-long celebration of the mission, ministries, and memories of the past century. The next celebration will be a special worship services, led by Rev. Tom Grieb, former senior pastor at St. Paul UMC and current pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Lexington, KY. Services will be held at 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at St. Paul Church, 2000 Douglass Blvd, Louisville, KY 40205. Services will be followed by a noon reception. The public is invited to attend.
By 1923, St. Paul Church outgrew the storefront and moved to its new location on the corner of Douglass Blvd and Bardstown Rd. A growing congregation and ambitious membership laid plans for their future church building during the Great Depression. A portion of the present building opened for services in 1931. The prominent, Gothic-style structure with the bells heard across the neighborhood was dedicated in 1944. Stained glass windows were installed in 1964. St. Paul Church installed its Noack organ in 2000 and added the Family Life Center in 2001.
Throughout the past century, the members of St. Paul Church have provided faith-based mission outreach. The church helped establish two churches locally and three congregations internationally. In July, St. Paul UMC will complete their 11th Habitat for Humanity House. The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival, hosted by St. Paul Church, celebrated in 35th anniversary in 2014. St. Paul Church houses the Highland Community Ministries (HCM) Adult Day Health Care Program, one of HCM’s child care programs, support groups, community outreach meetings, concerts, and sports events.