Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Columbia, South Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trinity Episcopal Church |
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Trinity Episcopal Church
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Episcopal Church |
| District | Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina |
| Leadership | Dean- Very Rev'd Dane Boston |
| Year consecrated | 1847 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 1100 Sumter St., Columbia, South Carolina |
| State | South Carolina |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Edward Brickell White |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1845 |
| Completed | 1894 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | West |
| Materials | Stucco over brick |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1971 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 71000805 |
| Website | |
| http://www.trinitysc.org/ | |
Trinity Episcopal Church, also called Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, is a very old and important church in Columbia, South Carolina. It was the first Episcopal church built there and is the oldest church building still standing.
This church looks like a famous old building in England called York Minster. It was built in a style called Gothic Revival, which means it looks like churches from the Middle Ages. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 24, 1971.
You can find Trinity Church on Sumter Street, between Gervais and Senate Streets. It's right next to the South Carolina State House.
Contents
How Trinity Church Started
In 1812, a group called the Society for the Advancement of Christianity sent a person named Rev. Fowler to Columbia. Their goal was to start a new church community. The church group officially began on August 8, 1812.
Later, in 1813, Bishop Theodore Dehon visited and held church services at the State House. The South Carolina Legislature officially recognized the church as the "Episcopal Church in Columbia."
The Legislature gave some land to the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. The Episcopalians then sold their land to the Presbyterians. This helped the Presbyterians build their church, which is now the First Presbyterian Church.
Building the First Church
The first Trinity Church building started with its cornerstone laid on March 7, 1814. Bishop Dehon officially opened the church on December 14, 1814. This first church was made of wood and had a cross shape.
A generous person named General Hampton gave $2,000 and an organ to the church.
After a few years without a main leader, Peter J. Shand came to help the church in 1834. He became the church's leader and stayed for 52 years! During his time, the church grew a lot. They started a Sunday School for African American children in 1838. They also got a new organ in 1839 and opened a school for students who needed help in 1844.
The Church's Design
The current Trinity Church building is designed in the Gothic Revival style. It was created by an architect named Edward Brickell White. The design reminds people of the famous York Minster in England.
The first stone for this new church was laid on November 26, 1845. Even though the church was planned to be cross-shaped, only the main part (called the nave) and the two tall towers were built at first. Each tower had eight pointed decorations called pinnacles. The church is made of brick covered with a light-colored plaster.
The church has strong supports on its walls called buttresses. Inside, the roof is held up by wooden beams that you can see. Bishop Gadsden officially opened this new church building on February 14, 1857.
Special Features and Additions
The church has a special baptismal font (a basin for baptisms) that was made by a sculptor named Hiram Powers. This font was later moved to another church, and a different one, also made by Hiram Powers, was given to Trinity Church.
Around 1860, beautiful stained-glass windows from Munich, Germany, were added. In 1861 and 1862, during the early years of the Confederacy, more parts of the church were built. These included the side sections (called transepts) and a rounded end part (called an apsidal chancel), all still designed by Edward Brickell White.
In 1890, a special stained-glass window was put in to honor Dr. Peter Shand. Later in the 1890s, more things were added. These included a new organ, special seats for the choir, a choir room, a stand for reading (called an eagle lectern), and the pulpit where sermons are given.
Later Years of the Church
A local story says that when the Union Army came into Columbia on February 17, 1865, people took down the church's Episcopal signs. They put paper crosses on the roof instead. They hoped this would protect the church because General Sherman, the Union general, was Catholic. When Sherman's army set fire to Columbia, the church leader's house burned down, but the church building itself survived. An old photo from around 1862 shows a large cross on the front of the church.
In June 1865, the Union Army commander in Columbia told Rev. Shand to say a specific prayer for the president during the service. The commander even sent someone to watch. When Rev. Shand started the prayer, the church members stood up from their knees and did not say "Amen."
In 1922, the larger Diocese of South Carolina was split into two. Trinity Church became part of the new Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. On January 19, 1977, Trinity Church was officially named the main church, or cathedral, of this new diocese.
The Churchyard
The churchyard at Trinity Church has three large live oak trees. The first tree, called the Sire Oak, was planted in 1814 when the first church was built. The second tree was planted in 1900 after the current church was finished. The third tree was planted in 1925 when the Parish House was completed. A beautiful wrought iron fence surrounds the churchyard.
Many important people from South Carolina are buried in this churchyard. These include:
- Generals from the American Revolutionary War like Wade Hampton I and Peter Horry.
- Wade Hampton II, who fought in the War of 1812.
- John Gabriel Guignard, who helped plan the city of Columbia.
- Dr. Thomas Cooper, a past president of South Carolina College.
- Confederate generals such as States Rights Gist, Wade Hampton III, and John S. Preston.
- The poet Henry Timrod.
- Senator Preston.
- Six governors of South Carolina: Richard Irvine Manning I, John Lawrence Manning, Hugh Smith Thompson, Richard Irvine Manning III, and James F. Byrnes.
- U.S. Attorney Terrell L. Glenn Sr..
- Eight bishops, including Ellison Capers.
Images for kids
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Trinity Episcopal Church
See also
