St Paul's United Methodist Church

The first church on this site was built in 1819 and was replaced by another structure in 1866. Forty years later, the congregation selected plans by Cincinnati architects Brown & Davis for a Romanesque Revival structure. Dedicated in 1909, the new church features rough stone walls, an imposing corner entrance, a domed auditorium, and intricate stained-glass windows. It originally boasted a central tower, which was removed in two stages during the 1920s. The name of St. Paul's dates from 1961, when the congregation of this First Methodist Church and the State Street Methodist Church merged.

To hear more about St. Paul's history from Mary Tomlan, click "Play Audio" above. To hear the perspective of Christine O'Malley, Historic Ithaca's Preservation Services Coordinator, click here!

If you are interested in seeing the interior, St Paul's keeps church office hours from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. During the summer, the office closes at 1:00 PM. The weekday entrance is through the doors along Aurora Street.