NPS Website; Local Website
WHAT IS IT?18th Century church accompanied by the oldest active cemetery in New York State.
BEAUTY (4/10)
The 1763 field stone church is charming in its simplicity. One cannot, however, cease to be distracted by its surroundings: screaming highways, warehouses, loading docks, construction cranes, a bus repair area and storage facility, etc… If buildings can have a soul, the Church must surely feel isolated, confused and sad. We are sure it wants a bath.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (4/10)
Nothing particularly significant happened at the Church. Its designation as an Historic Site is somewhat surprising. We should still be thankful that the Church remains. It is either the oldest or second oldest standing church in New York. Both were started in the same year.
The box-like pews, the simple design and lack of adornments speak of a different era. It is a typical church of the time. What makes the site compelling is that nearly all of that era’s churches are gone. A lot can be learned here. The Site also contains the oldest cemetery still in use in New York State.
CROWDS (8/10)
We had a personal tour. There was another tour going on with a third grade school group. Seeing only the tops of their heads sneaking over the high pews was humorous. It also allowed one to realize how stuffed the churchgoers would have been in that era. Six people were expected to squeeze into each pew and in practice six third graders constituted a tight fit.
Our tour guide explained that the tight fit and the high pews were necessary to keep the people warm in the winter months.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (4/5)
The traffic is thick and tense around Mount Vernon, but once you exit the Hutchinson Turnpike, the exit for St. Paul’s is clearly marked, brown National Park signs easily steer you in the right direction through a light industrial wilderness. There is a helpful parking lot. The Site open weekdays 9-5.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (1/5)
None.
COSTS (4/5)
Free.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (5/5)
We were never left wanting for help. There were two friendly, erudite and accommodating guides.
TOURS/CLASSES (9/10)The explanatory video was surprisingly good. The exhibits educational. The personal tour was the coup de grace. His tour made the Church come to life. We learned so much. Every question we had was answered with skill and comprehensiveness.
Once we left the Church interior our tour could have ended. Instead, despite the 40-degree temperature, biting winds and intermittent cold rain, our guide took us out into the Church’s cemetery and explained the engravings, locations and history of the gravestones. He went out of his way to enhance our trip to St. Paul’s.
FUN (5/10)
Despite being in a non-descript Church and a 300-year-old cemetery in the cold rain we could not stop talking about what a good time we had.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (6/10)
We expected nothing. What we got was an informative museum and a spectacular tour.
TOTAL 50/80
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