St. Paul’s to be deconsecrated

By Phil Cobb | July 19, 2024 |

FORUM FILE PHOTO
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Maryville is set to be deconsecrated on Wednesday, July 24.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Maryville is set to be deconsecrated on July 24, according to the Diocese of West Missouri in a news release provided Wednesday morning.

The diocese will offer a service of Secularizing a Consecrated Building at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 6 p.m. next Wednesday at the church’s longtime location at 901 N. Main St.

“The closure will be a celebration of the long life and ministry of the church as it ends in Maryville,” according to the news release.

St. Paul’s in Maryville organized as a missionary congregation on Aug. 19, 1872, and officially became a parish and held its first meeting of Vestry on May 7, 1878.

The church closed its doors in 1911, but was reactivated as a mission on May 11, 1945 at a location at Fifth and Market streets. In May of 1958 the church purchased land on North Main Street and completed construction of the current building at 901 N. Main St on June 1, 1959, and held its first service at that location that same week on June 7.

The building was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Edward R. Welles, bishop of the Diocese of West Missouri.

The diocese invites the public to take part in next Wednesday’s celebration.