Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Little Rock, Arkansas) facts for kids
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Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 310 W. 17th St. Little Rock, Arkansas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1884-1892 |
| Architect | Rt. Rev. Henry Niles Pierce, Ambrose Pettefer |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Governor's Mansion Historic District (ID78000620) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000460 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 13, 1976 |
| Designated CP | September 13, 1978 |
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is an old and important church in Little Rock, Arkansas. It's the main church for the Episcopal Church in Arkansas. This beautiful building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special landmark.
Contents
Building the Cathedral
The money to build this amazing cathedral was raised by a person named Rt. Rev. Henry Niles Pierce. He was a bishop who worked hard to get the church built. He traveled around the East Coast of the United States, giving speeches and asking for donations. He even used his own house as a guarantee to get money!
Building in Stages
The church was built in three main parts because they had to wait for enough money to come in.
- The first part to be finished was the main open area, called the nave, and the baptistery (where baptisms happen). The very first church service was held here on October 19, 1884. On this same day, the cathedral officially opened.
- Next, the transept (the part that crosses the main church, making it look like a cross from above) and the crossing (where the nave and transept meet) were finished in February 1889. The altar (the special table used for services) was moved to a new spot at this time.
- The final part, the chancel (the area around the altar), was ready by Easter in 1892. The altar was then moved to its final place at the east side of the church. The current altar and reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) were carved in Germany and given to the church in 1924.
Later Additions and Renovations
Over the years, more buildings were added to the church complex.
- The Parish House was built in 1951.
- The Cathedral House was completed two years later.
- The Lyman Annex was added in 1966.
- The Chancellors Hall was built in 1981.
The cathedral itself was recognized as a historic place in 1976.
The Bells and Organ
In 1987, the church ordered eight bells for its bell tower from a famous bell company in London, England. These bells were put in place the next year. They are rung in a special way called "change ringing," which is a traditional English style of ringing bells in a musical pattern.
In 1998, when Henry Lee Hudson was the Dean (the main priest) of the cathedral, almost $5 million was spent to make the main church building look new again. A new building called the Dean's Hall was also built then. The next year, a very large pipe organ with 82 different sounds was installed.
See also
