Saint Paul’s was built in 1856 as the town’s first Methodist Church. Architecturally it combines elements of both the Greek and Gothic Revival styles that were popular at the time.
Its history reflects the history of Methodism in the U.S.. The Delmarva peninsula has been dubbed “the garden of Methodism” in reference to the early seeds of the religion planted here in the seventeen sixties.
Before the Civil War, white Methodists in Oxford all attended Saint Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church. But they disagreed over the issue of slavery and often glared at each other across the aisles. Local legend has it that after the announcement of the surrender of General Lee in April 1865, the southern sympathizers in the congregation stormed out from the church, leaving through the open windows rather than walk out the front door under the American flag.
Those that left formed a new church, the Methodist Protestant Church. Architecturally very similar to Saint Paul’s, it was built on the north side of Town Park. It was taken down in the nineteen forties when the current brick Oxford Union Methodist Church was built.
Saint Paul’s continued as the Methodist Episcopal Church for a time but went through several iterations, ending as the home of the Pilgrim Holiness Church. This was a strict sect whose parishioners were initially people who had moved to Oxford from Holland Island when the island was engulfed by the Chesapeake Bay. Eventually the congregation dwindled and in the nineteen seventies the church was deconsecrated and sold privately to an Oxford couple who devoted years to its restoration. First, the steeple was rebuilt, then detailed work began inside. The restoration included the original pews, floor to ceiling pressed tin work, nine gas chandeliers and the beautiful stained-glass windows. The most elaborate of the three commemorates Samuel and Mary Bratt, original owners of the Academy House. Today Saint Paul’s remains in private ownership, and available to the community for small weddings, meetings and concerts.
Walk around to the back of the church for the next stop. (Stop #30)