Trinity Episcopal Church (Covington, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Trinity Episcopal Church
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 16 East Fourth Street, Covington, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1857 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002730 |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1982 |
Trinity Episcopal Church is a historic church located in Covington, Kentucky. It was first started on November 24, 1842, in a brick building near the Covington market. The first church building had its cornerstone laid on June 24, 1843. The very first church service was held there on June 30, 1844.
This church has helped the people of Covington and Cincinnati, Ohio for many years. It has been there through important times like wars and floods. Today, Trinity Episcopal Church is still very active. It has a large group of members and is located at Fourth and Madison Avenue. The church is the second largest parish (a church community) in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington.
Trinity Episcopal Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 1, 1982. This is because it shows a great example of the Gothic Revival style. This style used old medieval building ideas in churches built in the United States during the 1800s.
Contents
A Look at Church History
Trinity Episcopal Church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington. It was officially started in 1829. However, the very first Episcopal church in Kentucky was built earlier, in 1796. It was known as "The Episcopal Society."
The first Trinity Episcopal Church building in Covington was made of wood. It was built in 1843 after land was bought for $350.
Building the Current Church
The church building you see today was built between 1857 and 1859. It has a strong roof made of timber and trusses. The walls are built from brick and stone.
In 1871, the church added more space. But a fire in 1872 meant they had to rebuild it. The mayor of Covington even gave land to the church to help them. In 1885, a two-story guild hall was built. This hall was used for church activities.
More parts were added in 1887 and 1888. These included a new front on the west side and a new nave bay. The nave is the main part of the church where people sit. These additions allowed for a new baptistery (a place for baptisms) and a bell tower at the entrance. The last big changes to the building happened in 1961 and 1962. An L-shaped brick building was added for classrooms and offices.
Important People and Community Help
Many important people have been part of Trinity Episcopal Church. For example, John W. Stevenson, who was a Governor of Kentucky and a Senator, belonged to this church.
Trinity Episcopal Church also helped the community in other ways:
- It built the first public library in Covington.
- It started the Baker-Hunt Foundation. This foundation helps both kids and adults learn about and enjoy art.
In October 1897, the Kentucky Equal Rights Association held its ninth yearly meeting at the Guild Hall of Trinity Church. This group worked for equal rights, including women's right to vote.
Facing Challenges
The church has also faced challenges. The Ohio River flood of 1937 caused a lot of water damage to the bottom floor of Trinity Episcopal. The church worked hard to pay for all the repairs needed after the flood.
What the Church Looks Like Inside
The inside of Trinity Episcopal Church is very beautiful. It has brass, fancy windows, and wood carvings. These decorations can be seen in different parts of the church, such as:
- The chancel: The area around the altar.
- The nave: The main part where the congregation sits.
- The sacristy: A room where sacred items are kept.
- The sanctuary: The most sacred part of the church.
- The south transept: A part of the church that sticks out, making the building look like a cross.
