St. Paul’s Church, organized in 1740, is the birthplace of the American Episcopate.  On March 25, 1783, ten Connecticut clergy met in the Glebe House (St. Paul’s Rectory at the time) and elected the Reverend Samuel Seabury to be the first Bishop in Connecticut.  Bishop Seabury was consecrated Bishop in Aberdeen, Scotland on November 14, 1784 and thus became the first American Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

The Parish called John Rutgers Marshall as its first rector in 1771.  The Reverend Mr. Marshall organized a vital, active parish despite the great difficulties faced by a Church of England clergyman during the American Revolution.

In 1785, St. Paul’s Parish voted to begin construction of “a worthy edifice for the conduction of services.”  After much travail, the building was consecrated in 1822.  The main church building has undergone several renovations.  In the 1950’s, it was returned to its original colonial elegance under the direction of Reverend Nelson Pearson, who in addition to being Rector, was also and architect.  The Reverend Mr. Pearson also designed the adjoining Parish House, which was built in 1960 and incorporated the former Woodbury Probate Court Building.  In 1987, a major renovation of the Parish House was completed.