Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (San Jose, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trinity Cathedral |
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| 37°20′16.17″N 121°53′26.87″W / 37.3378250°N 121.8907972°W | |
| Location | 81 North Second Street San Jose, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| History | |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Consecrated | 1867 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John W. Hammond |
| Style | Carpenter Gothic |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 408 |
| Materials | Redwood |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | El Camino Real |
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is a special church in San Jose, California. It is the main church, or "seat," for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real. Think of it like the main office for a group of churches in the area.
Contents
History of Trinity Cathedral
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The story of Trinity Cathedral began a long time ago. In 1854, the first Episcopal bishop of California, Bishop William Ingraham Kip, visited San Jose. He held the very first Episcopal church service in the city.
Starting the Church Community
A few years later, in 1860, Reverend Sylvester S. Etheridge arrived. In 1861, the church community officially started and called itself Trinity Church. At first, they held their services in a firehouse. Later, they moved to the City Hall building.
Building the First Church
The church building you see today was finished in 1863. Four years later, in 1867, Bishop Kip officially dedicated it. This means he set it apart for holy use. Over the years, Trinity Church helped start ten other Episcopal churches in the area.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1980, a new church region called the Diocese of El Camino Real was created. Trinity Church was then chosen to be its main church, or "cathedral." This makes Trinity Cathedral very special. It is the oldest Episcopal church community in San Jose. It is also the oldest church building in the city that has been used continuously. Plus, it is the oldest Episcopal cathedral in all of California!
The Carillon Bells
In 2017, Trinity Cathedral completed an exciting project. They added more bells to their chime, turning it into a carillon. A carillon is a musical instrument made of many bells that can play melodies. Trinity's carillon now has 24 bells. It is one of only three carillons in the entire Bay Area, along with the ones at Stanford University and UC Berkeley.
Architecture and Design
The current church building was designed by James W. Hammond. He was a retired sea captain and shipbuilder. He was also a member of the church's leadership team. The original building was a simple rectangle with a steep roof. It was built using redwood trees from the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains.
Expanding the Church Building
As more people joined the church, they needed more space. Mr. Hammond came up with a clever idea. They cut the church building in half! Then, a team of horses pulled the two halves apart. This made room to add new sections, making the church look like a cross from above.
Adding the Tower and Spire
At the same time, they added the tall bell tower. Later, in 1884, a pointed top called a spire was added to the tower. The church was updated again in 1958. This gave it the look you see today.
Visiting Trinity Cathedral
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You can visit Trinity Cathedral during certain hours.
Service Times
The Cathedral is open on Sundays from 10 AM to 2 PM. Services are held at 10:30 AM in English and at 1:00 PM in Spanish.
Office Hours
If you need to visit the church office, it is open from 11 AM to 3 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
See also
