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, also called the "seat," for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real. This means it's a very important church for the Episcopal community in this area.
History of Trinity Cathedral
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The story of Trinity Cathedral began a long time ago. In 1854, Bishop William Ingraham Kip visited San Jose. He was the first Episcopal bishop in California. He held the first Episcopal church service in the city.
Later, in 1860, Reverend Sylvester S. Etheridge arrived. The church group officially started as Trinity Church in 1861. At first, they held services in a firehouse, then in City Hall.
The church building was finished in 1863. Bishop Kip officially dedicated it in 1867. Over the years, many other Episcopal churches started from Trinity. In 1980, Trinity Church became a "cathedral."
Trinity Cathedral is the oldest Episcopal church group in San Jose. It is also the oldest church building in the city that is still used today. Plus, it's the oldest Episcopal cathedral in California! In 2017, the church added more bells to its chime. It now has a 24-bell carillon. This makes it one of only three carillons in the Bay Area.
Building and Design
The church building you see today 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 rectangle with a steep roof. It was built using redwood trees from the Santa Cruz Mountains. As more people joined the church, they needed more space.
Mr. Hammond came up with a clever plan. The church building was cut in half! Then, horses pulled the two halves apart. This made space to add more sections. The front of the church was also moved to face North Second Street. These changes made the church look like a cross from above.
A bell tower was added at the same time. In 1884, a tall, pointed spire was added to the tower. The church was updated again in 1958. This gave it the look it has today.
Visiting Trinity Cathedral
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You can visit Trinity Cathedral on Sundays. It is open from 10 AM to 2 PM. Church services are held at 10:30 AM in English and at 1:00 PM in Spanish.
The church office is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. You can visit the office from 11 AM to 3 PM.
See also
