Trinity Episcopal Church (Danville, 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 | 320 W. Main Street Danville, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1830 |
| Architect | Robert Russel, Jr. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000604 |
| Added to NRHP | September 15, 1977 |
Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville, Kentucky, is a very old and important church. It was one of the first churches started by the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky. Trinity Church is the oldest church building still used in Danville. It is also the oldest continuously used Episcopal church building in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington. It is even the second oldest in all of Kentucky! This church is so special that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of Trinity Church
Early Days of the Church
The Episcopal Church started in Kentucky way back in 1796. The first church was Christ Church in Lexington. But it was not until 1809 that this church officially began. That is when its first vestry (a group of church leaders) was chosen.
In 1822, a second Episcopal church opened in Louisville. It was also named Christ Church. Its building, now called Christ Church Cathedral, was finished in 1824.
In 1829, Reverend George T. Chapman had an idea. He was a leader at Lexington's Christ Church. He wanted to create a larger church group called a Diocese. To do this, Reverend Chapman visited Danville. There, he helped start a new church group.
Building the Church
Many important local people helped start the new church. These included doctors, lawyers, bankers, and landowners. Dr. Ephraim McDowell and his wife, Sarah Shelby McDowell, were on the committee to build the church. Sarah was the daughter of Isaac Shelby, Kentucky's first Governor.
Another very helpful person was James Birney. He was a rich merchant and gave a lot of money to the church. His son, James G. Birney, later became famous for working to end slavery.
The new church building was finished in late 1830 or early 1831. It was built by Robert Russel Jr., a local brick maker. Russel built many early brick buildings in Danville. This included Old Centre in 1820. The church leaders decided to start building once they had $1,500.
The church was officially blessed on June 3, 1831. Reverend William Meade did the blessing. He was a very important leader in the Episcopal Church. At that time, Kentucky did not have its own bishop. So, Reverend Meade came to help with church duties.
Early Leaders and Challenges
The first main leader of Trinity Church was Reverend Gideon McMilan. Besides his work at Trinity Church, Reverend McMillan rode horses to nearby towns. He started new church groups in Harrodsburg and Lancaster.
Sadly, Reverend McMillan's time at the church was short. He got sick during the cholera epidemic of 1833. He had been helping people in the community who were sick. He was buried near the church.
Fire and Rebuilding
Trinity Church kept growing and holding services. But in 1860, a big fire damaged the church. The fire destroyed much of Danville's business area. The day after the fire, people checked the church. They found that the four walls and the front entrance were still strong.
A new roof and bell tower were built. A special area for the altar, called a chancel, was also added. The old window openings were changed. They were replaced with tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. These had wooden designs and a four-leaf shape above them.
After the repairs in 1861, the church looked different. It had been built in a simple style. Now, it became a beautiful Gothic Revival building. This style looks like old European churches with pointed arches and tall windows. The church still looks this way today.
A Hospital During War
For several months in 1862, the newly fixed church was used as a hospital. It helped Union soldiers who were hurt in the Battle of Perryville. This battle happened on October 8, 1862. A drawing from a magazine in 1862 showed Union soldiers arriving in Danville. You can clearly see Trinity Church in that drawing.
What the Church Looks Like
Original Design
The first church building was a rectangle. It had a two-story vestibule (entrance hall) sticking out from the front. The walls were made of bricks laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. In 1842, a small dome-like structure called a cupola was added to the vestibule. This held the church bell.
Inside, the ceiling was held up by two rows of columns. At the back of the church, there was a gallery for the organ and choir.
Changes After the Fire
In 1860, a fire badly damaged the church. The roof was destroyed. But the vestibule and the four main walls were still standing and strong. So, they decided to rebuild using these parts.
The rebuilding plans in 1860 changed the church into a Gothic Revival style. A recessed chancel was added. Three lancet windows were placed over the altars. The middle window was taller and wider. Two narrow lancet windows were added in the front of the church. These let light into the choir loft. Another lancet window was put in the bell tower.
The old rectangular windows were replaced. New paired lancet windows were put in. Above these, there was a quatrefoil design (a shape like a four-leaf clover) inside a circle. All the windows were filled with stained glass. They had wooden tracery (decorative patterns). They also had stone sills below and a special stone called a keystone above.
The old cupola was replaced by a tall bell tower. On top of the tower is an eight-sided steeple with a cross. The base of the steeple has narrow, louvered (slatted) openings on all four sides. Triangle-shaped vents are in the middle of the tower.
