Meet St. Paul's, Smithfield

A church of mission and music

By the Rev. Dr. Jim Melnyk

Diocesan records first mention St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Smithfield, by that name as a Johnston County mission in 1899. The first church building, in use since 1903, was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire in 1911. Our current worship space was consecrated on March 7, 1954, by the Rt. Rev. Edwin Penick.

In 1997 The Revs. Kenneth Bradshaw (rector) and Tony Rojas (Diocese of East Carolina) begin a mission outreach to the Hispanic/Latino community in Johnston County. Out of that early initiative the Mission of San José was born in 2004. San José Mission now meets on Sunday afternoons at 3:00, led alternately by the Rev. Daniel Robayo, diocesan missioner for Hispanic and Latino ministries, as well as the Rev. John Gibson, vicar of Grace Episcopal Mission, Clayton. John Drymon, music director of St. Paul’s, serves as the musician for San José.

One year later, in 1998, St. Paul’s dedicated a Zimmer pipe organ which helps undergird one of the finest choirs in the Diocese. Our music director, Drymon, came on board in the spring of 2011. He has continued the tradition of a strong music ministry at St. Paul’s through choral development, the use of guest singers and musicians, and the use of in-house musicians. We have relatively new chime choir and hope to see it become a full bell choir in the future.

St. Paul’s mission statement is “To know Christ and to make Christ known.” The parish has sought ways to be active in the Smithfield community and actively seeks to offer hospitality to all. In 2015 we dedicated an outdoor labyrinth which has been used by members of the community as well as several different churches in the area.

The Rev. Dr. Jim Melnyk began his tenure at St. Paul’s during the season of Advent in 2010 as priest-in-charge. He was installed as rector of the parish by the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry in 2011 and is now in his ninth year at St. Paul’s. Melnyk currently serves as the ecumenical and interfaith officer of the Diocese.

St. Paul’s has long been active in the greater Johnston County community. The parish was instrumental in helping begin Harbor of Johnston County, the county’s only nonprofit agency for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and families in transition. The parish is also active in Wake/Johnston County Habitat for Humanity, Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry, Meals on Wheels and the newly forming My Kid’s Club, which is replacing the Boys and Girls Clubs of Johnston County. As followers of the risen Christ, St. Paul’s continues to seek ways to honor the gospel and join with people of faith everywhere to be repairers of the world.