The Reverend Jordan Peck, Assistant Rector of St. John’s accepted the Bishop’s request to serve as Vicar. A beautiful chapel was constructed in the garage at Father Peck’s home. And it was here that the monies, from the Elliott Fund of St. John’s Episcopal Church and the Diocesan Department of Missions, made possible the purchase of the site and the construction of a building on Ireland Drive. On April 12, 1964 groundbreaking ceremonies were celebrated and on June 27 the cornerstone was laid as Bishop Wright officiated on this significant occasion. The first worship service in the new building was a celebration of the Holy Communion on Sunday August 9 and the completed building was dedicated to the “Glory of God and in Honor of St. Paul” by Bishop Wright on November 8, 1964. An historic note about the hymn-boards: They were found in the storage room at Diocesan House in Wilmington. They had been removed from the OLD St. John’s Church in Wilmington when it was demolished. Father Peck and Mack McCullock found them, brought them back to St. Paul’s, refinished and installed them. They are still here today.

Growth was so rapid, that in only one year after it’s founding, St. Paul’s was operating at a sufficient budget for the vestry to petition the Diocese for official recognition. This was acted favorably upon at the 82nd Annual Diocesan Convention, February 10-11, 1965. Thus, we became St. Paul’s-in-the-Pines Mission.

In November 1966 the parish’s growth demanded more space. Father Edward Jordan and the vestry formed a committee to study the needs for that space. As a result of the excellent work of the Building Plans Committee in obtaining funds, the enlarged Parish Hall was completed and formally opened on August 25, 1968.

Early in 1968, about the time of St. Paul’s fourth birthday, the vestry voted to petition the Diocese to consider raising the status of our church to that of an Aided Parish. The 85th Annual Diocesan convention of 1968 granted our request.

Shortly after Father Thomas A. Gregg accepted the call to serve as third rector of St. Paul’s in June 1969, he decided to take on a project of enabling parish members to design and construct stained glass windows for the church. This project is still a work-in-progress today. In the sanctuary there are eleven windows, seven depict the life of Jesus, and four portray the life of St. Paul. The church keeps them lit at night for all to see.

In 1976 Father Joseph Cooper saw the need to further expand our Church with additional classrooms. In October 1976 work began with the Church supplying materials. The local technical college used their instructors and students to perform the labor. This addition provided the church with a nursery and three classrooms. Father Cooper introduced us to the new Prayer Book, especially the Rite II Services, which were quickly adapted to use on a regular basis. When the new 1982 Hymnal arrived, he rapidly put it to our use.

In October of 1983 we called the Reverend Lucy B. Talbott to serve as our rector. She was the first female priest to be called to lead a Church in the Diocese of East Carolina. In 1989 St. Paul’s became a full parish and Rev. Talbott helped us to adjust to this status. During her 17 and ½ years at St. Paul’s, Rev. Talbott served not only our parish, but was active in local, Diocesan, and National Church service.

In early 1985 St. Paul’s began an ecumenical clown group called “God’s Clods.” The group was active throughout the state offering liturgical clowning and pastoral care. St. Paul’s initiated “Episcopalians for Habitat.” In October 1995, there was a dedication ceremony for the first Episcopalian-sponsored Habitat House. Since 1995 St. Paul’s has committed itself to many areas of outreach. The Church provided living accommodations and food in its classrooms to out-of-town visitors who had relatives in local hospitals. Recently we sponsored a refugee family from Bosnia for a year to get them started in this country. The church is a part of a network of churches called “Interfaith Hospitality”, that provide food and lodging for homeless families a one week at a time. Parishioners collected seven truckloads of clothing, blankets, and food for The Migrant Farm Workers Ministry. We hold an annual auction where we have raised approximately $5000.00 a year that goes to the church and to HIV/AIDS Ministry.

Today we practice “Radical Hospitality.” We accept all in God’s Church without regard to age, race or sexual preference. We live in to our mission statement.