Among the historic anniversaries being celebrated this year is the 125th anniversary of the construction of the “oldest religious building in continuous use in Vernal.” St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was built in 1901 and, having reached its 125th year mark, was the focus of celebration last month. Delys and Phillip Snyder traveled to Vernal for the 125th anniversary celebration and shared the following in a special article about their visit: The current Bishop of the Utah Diocese, the Right Reverend Phyllis Spiegel, came to Vernal to share in the celebration, which included the Church’s own band and famous cupcakes. She drove her colorful RV, dubbed “The Bishop’s Office,” and stayed to lead the Sunday Service…The congregation at St. Paul’s is tight, gathering for potlucks after services and distributing donated new bedding, towels, stocking hats, socks and gently used or new coats. Judy Kurtz was baptized in this chapel as a baby. She organizes a weekly meal distribution at St. Paul’s, assisted by other denominations in the area. She commented that “the thing I am most proud of is how many people from interfaith religions are here” at the celebration and the service. “It has long been my wish for the community to work together more and now it is happening. I can go anywhere in town and see the new people I’ve come to know and now call my friends.” The future of this historic building includes fund raising and plans to repair the foundation so its congregants can continue worshiping and serving the community. The Snyder’s full report is shared below.
Episcopalians Built the First Churches in the Uintah Basin
By Delys and Phillip Snyder
The National Register of Historic Places lists St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Vernal as the “oldest religious building in continuous use in Vernal.”
This is a year of celebrations. This year is the 250th anniversary of the Dominguez-Escalante expedition, which came through the Uintah Basin in 1776. This year also celebrates the 125th anniversary of the second oldest religious building constructed in the Basin: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Vernal. Surprisingly, both of the oldest chapels are Episcopalian.
How did that come to be?
The Ute Indian Tribe once spread through present-day Utah, but it was consolidated as the U.S. government created a large reservation and moved the tribe members to the Uintah Basin. That reservation was squeezed when the homestead act opened up reservation lands to white people in 1905.
But even before the homesteading act, Brigham Young sent out scouts to report on the Unitah Basin. Their reports were not flattering, so people were not sent initially from Salt Lake to settle what would later become Vernal.
The Right Reverend Daniel S. Tuttle came as a missionary bishop to Salt Lake City to establish the Episcopal Church and schools. St. Mark’s is the first non-LDS school in Salt Lake City. Then the next Bishop, The Right Reverend Abiel Leonard, brought the Episcopal Church to smaller communities throughout Utah, including Vernal, to serve their members spread throughout the West and to bring Christianity to the native Americans.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was built in Vernal in 1901, and in 1912, people in New York funded the adjacent building, St. Paul’s Lodge. This building served as lodging for boarding girls from outlying areas attending school in Vernal. Later the Lodge served as a hospital. After World War II, in 1949, the Church bought it back. Now the Lodge is used for community gatherings, including AA groups and music groups. The Vicar is Reverend Connie Gordon.
The current Bishop of the Utah Diocese, the Right Reverend Phyllis Spiegel, came to Vernal to share in the celebration, which included the Church’s own band and famous cupcakes. She drove her colorful RV, dubbed “The Bishop’s Office,” and stayed to lead the Sunday Service, including live music from the band and readings from The Book of Common Prayer.
The chapel pews were draped in spectacular quilts, many historic. Janeall Smuin Kirkland, one of the quilters, returned to Vernal after 50 years and sings in the band. “I love to sing. Singing is a big part of my religion.”
The congregation at St. Paul’s is tight, gathering for potlucks after services and distributing donated new bedding, towels, stocking hats, socks and gently used or new coats.
Judy Kurtz was baptized in this chapel as a baby. She organizes a weekly meal distribution at St. Paul’s, assisted by other denominations in the area. She commented that “the thing I am most proud of is how many people from interfaith religions are here” at the celebration and the service. “It has long been my wish for the community to work together more and now it is happening. I can go anywhere in town and see the new people I've come to know and now call my friends.”
The future of this historic building includes fund raising and plans to repair the foundation so its congregants can continue worshiping and serving the community.