Our History
Then Now
Dreams begin with God, the giver of all good things, and continue with people like Bishop John A. Baden who "get the vision" of God's dream and are actualized through fellowships like Christ Church who made God's dream and Bishop Baden's vision a reality in the founding of a mission church, Saint Paul's on-the-Hill!
In January of 1963, during the ministry of the Rev. John A. Baden, land was purchased to fulfill his dream of founding "mission churches". The commencement of construction of St. Paul's on-the-Hill was in 1966 in Frederick County adjacent to the City of Winchester where the sponsoring Christ Church was located.
On February 19, 1967, St. Paul's was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Robert B. Hall, Bishop Coadjutor, thus making God's dream, Rev. Baden's vision and Christ Church's sponsorship a reality. After the wonderful efforts of many of Christ Church's clergy to assist this "mission church", as well as other part-time clergy, the first full-time vicar, Michael Mohn, was called in 1984.
St. Paul's on-the-Hill became an independent church with the blessings of its sponsor, Christ Church, at the Diocesan Council, January 28, 1995. The first vicar became the church's first Rector.
In 1998 a search committee was empowered by the vestry to select a new rector. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the labors of two interim Episcopal priests, the vestry and the search committee, the parish's prayers were realized. The Rev. Ed Dunlap began his new ministry as Rector of St. Paul's on-the-Hill on August 1, 2000. Ed served St. Paul's until his retirement in June of 2003.
The Very Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith began her ministry at St. Paul's on September 2, 2003 as Priest-in-Charge. In October of 2005, the vestry voted to call Hilary as rector. She accepted the call, and on February 26, 2006 was installed as our third rector by the bishop of Virginia, The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee.
