St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Richmond

Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond is a historic landmark with deep connections to the region's political and social history. Established in 1845, the church is positioned directly across Ninth Street from the Virginia State Capitol, at the heart of Richmond's political scene. Its location has made it a favored place of worship for many notable figures including General Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and numerous Virginia governors, earning it the moniker "the Cathedral of the Confederacy."

The church's leadership has also included prominent figures such as Rev. Dr. Charles Minnigerode, who served during the tumultuous periods of the Civil War and Reconstruction from 1856 to 1889. Later, from 1969 to 1976, Rev. John Shelby Spong, a retired bishop of the Diocese of Newark, served as rector, during which time he gained national attention.

Architecturally, Saint Paul's is a stunning example of Greek Revival design, crafted by Thomas Somerville Stewart and inspired by Saint Luke's Church in Philadelphia. The building was consecrated in 1845. The church originally featured a towering 225-foot spire, which was the tallest structure in Richmond until its removal between 1900 and 1905 due to stability concerns. Today, it features a 135-foot-tall octagonal dome.

The church could originally accommodate 1,162 parishioners, with 804 sittings in the nave and 358 in the gallery. Saint Paul's Episcopal Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, further cementing its status as a key historical and architectural treasure in Richmond.