Consider the story of a parish community. This community overcame obstacles to build a lasting landmark that is St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church.
St. Paul’s Catholic Church stands proudly in San Francisco’s Noe Valley. It has a rich history dating back to 1876. George Shadbourne expressed his desire to Archbishop Joseph Alemany to establish a new parish. He also offered to collect money, purchase land, and build a church. The Archbishop approved.
In 1880 a church building and a residence were constructed. This first church could seat 750 people. It served around 200 families.
By 1897 the parish had grown. Construction began on the current English Gothic structure. It seats 1400. Construction took 14 years. The parish used a “pay-as-you-go” system. This approach saved the parish from construction debt. St. Paul’s Catholic Church was finally dedicated on May 29 1911. Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan led the dedication.
Frank T. Shea designed the new church. He was a prolific church architect. He was also responsible for St. James’s, St. Brigid’s, and Old St. John’s.
Monsignor Michael D. Connolly acted as contractor and builder. He recruited able-bodied parishioners for the project. Even Saturday morning religious education students helped. They hauled rocks from a quarry.
The completed St. Paul’s Catholic Church featured beautiful stained glass windows from Germany. There was also an impressive organ. These finishing touches were envisioned by Monsignor Connolly. St. Paul’s quickly became a venerable landmark in San Francisco. It reflects Monsignor Connolly’s leadership. It also shows the dedication of parishioners.
St. Paul’s faced challenges over the years. After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake the church needed seismic reinforcement. The archdiocese considered closing St. Paul’s. The potential costs of reinforcing the church and adjacent buildings were high. This decision was later reversed. The parish sold some buildings. It reinforced the remaining ones. The project cost about $8.5 million.
St. Paul’s has appeared in movies and television. Interior and exterior views were used in “The Streets of San Francisco”. In 1992 St. Paul’s was the filming site for the movie “Sister Act”. The parish was called “St. Katherine’s Monastery” in the film. The area around St. Paul’s was changed to look like a poorer community.
In the early 2000s St. Paul’s underwent revitalization. Seismic bracing and structural upgrades were completed. The church was made more accessible. Interior finishes were revitalized.
In 2009 and 2010 St. Paul’s steeples were repaired. The slate tiles were replaced. A parishioner donated gold leaf for the crosses. A local expert donated labor to make the crosses shine.
Today St. Paul’s Catholic Church remains a spiritual center. It is a vibrant community with extensive programs. St. Paul’s is known for education. It has a commitment to the Gospel. Its people have an unshakable belief in God. The parish community loves its neighbors. As Red Spillane said “God visits other churches but lives at St. Paul’s.”