The original St. Paul's Cathedral and Chapel, circ. 1867.

Innovation has been a part of the fabric of St. Paul's since it was established nearly 150 years ago. In 1866, our founders took innovative action and broke away from Christ Church to form St. Paul's. One of the primary reasons was a difference of opinion, both ideological and physical. They built a magnificent cathedral-like church at the corner of New York and Illinois Streets in downtown Indianapolis, where St. Paul's lived and prospered for over 70 years.

In the late 1930s, however, when the congregation was dwindling, our predecessors boldly determined the church building and downtown location no longer facilitated St. Paul's mission. Architects were hired, plans were made and following World War II, the congregation built a new church in the "country" at the "bend in Meridian." These building milestones, characterized by innovation, courage and faith, have formed us today.

St. Paul's Church, Meridian Street, under construction. November 17, 1946      photo credit: Lydia Venn

Now it falls to this congregation to guide and realize St. Paul's third great time in history. By "turning our church around" to accommodate a new organ and increasing the length of the nave, we can maximize the power of our worship space to draw us into God's majesty. By constructing a new narthex, garth, connecting walkway and turning the Apostles' Chapel into a new youth space, we become more welcoming, hospitable and inclusive... and better able to live out our Innovative Mission for Christ.