Who We Are
.jpg)
A Brief History of Our Church
St. Paul's Parish has been sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Kent County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for more than 330 years. It was established as one of 30 original Church of England parishes in 1692 by an act of the General Assembly. After the Revolutionary War, the Church of England in the United States became what is now the Episcopal Church and remains in communion with the Anglican Church of England. Our current church building was constructed in 1713 and is the oldest continuously-used Episcopal church in Maryland. The peaceful grounds of the churchyard overlook a serene lake and contain the church, a Vestry building (1766), an historic cemetery, a parish hall (1948) and a rectory. St. Paul's Parish was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
What We Believe
As a member of The Episcopal Church, we strive to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ as the Son of a life giving, loving God. Therefore, we are an inclusive community that welcomes all to participate in sharing God's word. In addition to the Bible (a central part of every service) we follow the Book of Common Prayer, which includes our catechism, order of services, prayers for all aspects of life and the same liturgical calendar many traditional churches follow.​
Governance
As in all Episcopal churches, the governing body of St. Paul’s is called the Vestry. The Vestry is composed of elected lay members of the congregation who hold the legal authority for financial oversight and overall operations of the church. They work with the clergy to develop church worship and ministry. Members of the Vestry hold three-year terms and are elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting.
The Rector
The spiritual leader of the parish is called the Rector. He or she is an ordained priest in The Episcopal Church. Currently, St. Paul’s is served by an interim rector, Mother Eleanor Ellsworth. Mother Eleanor has been with us since February 2025 and will stay until a permanent rector is called. More about Mother Eleanor.
Rector Search
St. Paul's is in the process of calling a permanent Rector. Additional information about the transition can be found here.
Staff
We have a small, but dedicated staff consisting of a Parish Administrator, a Sexton who maintains the grounds, and a Music Director.