Baltimore's Oldest Church Reopens After Renovation

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's a grand opening three months in the making. The city's oldest church welcomed parishioners back inside this weekend.

Gigi Barnett reports the Old St. Paul's Church has a brand new look.

Trumpets marked the occasion at Old St. Paul's Church in the heart of Baltimore. After three months of renovations, the city's first and oldest church reopened this weekend.

"The place is beautiful," said parishioner Dave Zellers. "Walking in there, they just did it right."

Doing it right means a fresh coat of paint, brighter lighting and buffing the Tiffany stained glass.

While the congregation is more than 300 years old, the building is historic, too--completed back in 1856.

"It's so beautiful," said church member Tara Kirk Sell. "I love being part of the tradition that sort of reaches back into the history of Baltimore. And it really is great to feel like part of something that's living and moving on and will still be here even when I'm gone."

The renovations were so extensive, the congregation had to worship elsewhere.

"It was a long time coming," said Rev. Mark Stanley. "It's an exciting day."

There's one architectural design that members of the church wanted to focus on during this renovation. It started in the 1850s, and now, it's finished.

"In 1856, they had a sketch that had stars, but they never painted it. Maybe they ran out of money," said Stanley. "And so, we said, 'Let's do it.' So we fulfilled the vision of 1856 for them."

And for generations to come.

Parishioners worshiped at the nearby Tremont Grand Hotel during the renovation.