About us
St. Paul's Church
Our Vision:
We seek Christ in our daily lives through worship, fellowship, and outreach.
Our Mission:
The mission of St. Paul's is to illuminate the path to Christ, offering hospitality to all who come through our doors, and to seek Christ in our daily lives through worship, fellowship, and outreach.
Our History:
St. Paul's was organized in 1947 and remained a mission of the Diocese until 1979, when it was officially admitted as a parish. St. Paul's original church building was hit by lightning and destroyed by fire on June 16, 1956. According to the diocesan newspaper Now, "The bolt struck with tremendous force, jarring the town of 13,000 with an earth-shaking concussion." The fire started in the 60-foot spire, which crashed to the ground. The congregation began building a new church that same year. A parish hall was added in the 1970s.
The Diocese of Missouri
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a parish in The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. The Diocese was founded in 1841 by Bishop Jackson Kemper and now has more than 40 communities of faith and approximately 10,000 members located throughout eastern and central Missouri.
We believe that God is calling the people of The Diocese of Missouri to transform our churches, our communities, and our world to reflect more and more God's dream found in Jesus Christ. A dream that calls us to be a people who seek to be followers of Jesus who are forgiven, healed, strengthened, and renewed. We seek a deeper connections with God and with each other as we journey together.
The Diocese is led by the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, XI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.
The Episcopal Church
The Diocese of Missouri is one of 108 dioceses in The Episcopal Church. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God's love for every human being. Women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God, and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation.
We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe God loves you -- no exceptions!
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry is the Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church.
The Anglican Communion
The Episcopal Church is a member province of The Anglican Communion, which has its roots in The Church of England. The Anglican Communion is one of the world's largest Christian communities, with tens of millions of members in more than 106 countries around the globe.
The head of The Anglican Communion is the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. But there is no central authority in the Anglican Communion. All of the provinces are autonomous and free to make their own decisions in their own ways.