St. Paul's Memorial United Methodist Church was completed in 1903 after nearly two years of construction. The church was a gift to the congregation from Clement Studebaker and his wife Ann. Devout churchgoers, the couple had also built Milburn Memorial Chapel in memory of Ann's father, George Milburn, a wagon maker like Clem, in 1883. When the congregation outgrew Milburn Chapel, the Studebakers offered to build a new church at Colfax and LaPorte Avenues, the church that became St. Paul's Memorial.
The style chosen for the church was 15th century English Gothic, identified by its rounded arches, large spaces filled with lofty windows, and the use of gargoyles. Art mosaic tiles made of Indian blue limestone cover the entry hall floors.
After construction began, the Studebakers went to Europe where they visited famous churches, seeking out ideas for the structure in South Bend. At the art glass works of Mayer and Co. in Munich, Germany, Clem was so impressed with the model of St. Paul preaching on Mars Hill that he wired to the church immediately, proposing to install its duplicate if the name of the church could be St. Paul's Memorial.
In failing health when he left for Europe, Studebaker died a few weeks after he returned home to Tippecanoe Place on November 27, 1901, within sight of the growing spire of the church he would never see completed.
Studebaker himself is immortalized in the window which so inspired him. At the right of the window, which pictures people listening to St. Paul's message, the artists at Mayer inserted a likeness of Clem Studebaker, beard and all, standing behind the governor of Athens on his balcony. Behind Clem stands Tom, his faithful valet, holding a large canopy.
The window is only one of the many outstanding art glass windows installed by by Mayer. Two tiers of classrooms opening off the Great Hall have windows illustrating the most important moments in Christ's life; pictures of many flowers and other biblical scenes may be found throughout the church as well.