The history of St. Paul's by-the-Sea closely parallels the history of Ocean City itself. In 1878, just three years after the first hotel opened on the island, Episcopal church services were held at Congress Hall on the site of the present-day inlet.
By 1881, a small mission church was built near the hall with summer services led by the rector of St. Paul's church in the larger neighboring town of Berlin. An early church parochial report indicates that this building could seat 300 and was worth about $2000. The church's congregation was transient, according to the report.
Eighteen years later - in 1898 - John Waggaman of Washington D.C. donated to the congregation two lots "up the beach" at Baltimore Avenue and Thrid Street, the church's present day location. The cornerstone for the new church was laid on June 6th, 1900, and the first service was held July 7th the following year.
This new parish was considered a "mission church" in the Diocese of Easton until 1924, when it was recognized as an independent parish and began to receive its own rectors.
The original church rectory was built on Third Street in 1913, but was razed to the ground in 1973 to provide the site for the parish hall named in honor of Rev. William Dewees. A new rectory on Baltimore Avenue was completed in 1923 and now houses the parish's offices.
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Architecture
"The turn-of-the-century Gothic Revival frame church has survived with only minor alterations in its wood-shingled exterior," writes architectural historian Paul Touart. The corner bell tower and entrance are notable for their pointed-arch openings. The sides of the church are also defined by the pointed-arch stained glass windows.
The interior of the church features lower oak wainscoating and white plaster walls -- providing a warm, inviting, and tranquil atmosphere. In the main aisle, red carpeting extends from the entrance to the chancel.
Improvements to the church building following its 1900 construction include the removal of wooden pilings and the construction of basement rooms used for Sunday school instruction. Closing the exterior porch between the bell tower and the church proper added additional seating in the church.
The altar, credence table, and altar rail were donated by the Junior Guild of St. Paul's by-the-Sea and installed in 1944. The altar cross dates from 1906 and the donor is unknown. The Moeller organ was installed in 1947-48 and was a gift of members of the parish.
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