Edenton, North Carolina
St. Paul's Episcopal Church was built 1736-1766 and is the second oldest in North Carolina. The oldest is St. Thomas in Bath, NC (see my blog on March 31, 2015). The galleries, steeple, and roof were destroyed by a fire in 1949, and the church was repaired.
The pretty, brick church was a large one for its time. The graveyard beside it holds several prominent people, like Thomas Pollock; Henderson Walker; and Charles Eden, who gave his name to the town. This graveyard began in 1722, when Edenton became the capital of North Carolina.
A large number of Revolutionary leaders from the state attended St. Paul's, and most of them continued to be noteworthy after the war James Iredell became a Supreme Court Justice. Thomas Jones may have written the new constitution for the state of North Carolina when it formed. Joseph Hewes would sign the Declaration of Independence, and Samuel Johnston would first be governor and then a senator.
St. Paul's church congregation was organized over three centuries ago, and I felt surrounded by history as I toured the church grounds and building. Although it certainly has a link with colonial times, it continues to serve as a house of worship for its congregation and welcomes visitors.
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