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St. Paul’s was completed in 1903 after nearly 2 years of construction. The church structure was a gift to their beloved congregation by Clem and Ann Studebaker. Clem and Ann were devout churchgoers and had previously built the Milburn Memorial Chapel in memory of Ann’s father. When the congregation outgrew Milburn Chapel, the Studebaker’s offered to build a new church at Colfax and Laporte Avenues.
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History of St. Paul’s |
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They chose 15th century English Gothic style, identified by it’s pointed or rounded arches, large spaces filled with lofty windows and noted for it’s beauty, strength and freshness. The outside building material is Indiana blue limestone. After construction began, Clem and Ann departed for Europe in the hope of effecting an improvement in Clem’s health. They traveled throughout Europe visiting many famed churches and obtaining numerous suggestions for the new structure in South Bend. Among these visits was a trip to Bavaria to view the widely known art glass works of Mayer & Company of Munich. While in Munich they saw an art glass representation of St. Paul preaching from Mars Hill in Athens. They beauty of this glass work so impressed Clem and Ann that they wrote home offering to install an art glass window in the new church duplicating this view of St. Paul on Mars Hill. They also suggested that the church name be changed to St. Paul’s. The official board gladly accepted these suggestions, and the window was installed at a cost of $40,000.00. Today, this window was appraised at over $1,000,000.00. In failing health Clem Studebaker returned home and died a few weeks later at Tippecanoe Place never having seen the completed church. |
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Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors |
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St. Paul’s Memorial United Methodist Church |
