kids encyclopedia robot

Trinity Episcopal Church (Detroit) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church Detroit.jpg
Location 1519 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Detroit, Michigan
Built 1890
Architect George D. Mason & Zachariah Rice
Architectural style English Gothic
NRHP reference No. 80001929
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP May 22, 1980

The Trinity Episcopal Church is a historic building in Detroit, Michigan. It is located at 1519 Martin Luther King Boulevard. This church is part of the Woodbridge Historic District.

It was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979. A year later, in 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, this church is known as Spirit of Hope.

History of Trinity Episcopal Church

Early Beginnings

The church started in 1878 as the Epiphany Reformed Episcopal parish. It was a place for Anglicans who were not part of the main Episcopal church in Michigan. In 1880, the group built a small wooden church. They changed their name to Trinity Episcopal in 1889.

Building the Church

James E. Scripps, who owned The Detroit News newspaper, was a member of the Trinity church. He loved old English churches. Scripps had drawings made of churches in England. In 1893, he gave $55,000 to build the church we see today.

Changes Over Time

In 1896, the Trinity members decided to join the main Episcopal church in Michigan. A parish house was built in 1926. This building had a chapel, a dining room, a gym, offices, and classrooms. The church also welcomed new people, including the Irish community. However, fewer people lived in the area over time. This caused the church's group of members to shrink.

Becoming Spirit of Hope

In 2001, the nearby Jeffries Housing Projects were taken down. This meant the Faith Memorial Lutheran Church, which started in 1956, had very few members left. The groups from Faith Memorial Lutheran and Trinity Episcopal decided to join together. In April 2006, they became one church called Spirit of Hope.

In 2007, Kathleen Devlin (Tuka) started the Spirit of Hope Urban Farm. This farm was even shown in Natural Home & Garden magazine in 2011.

Church Design and Features

Trinity Episcopal Church Detroit detail
Close-up of the church's outside details

James E. Scripps asked architects Mason & Rice to design the church. They created it in the English Gothic style. The church's floor plan looks like a cross.

Building Materials

The walls of Trinity Episcopal Church are very thick, about two feet (0.6 meters). They are made of strong Trenton limestone. The roof is covered with copper. Smooth brown limestone is used for trim, which stands out against the white limestone walls.

Tower and Carvings

The church has a tall central tower, about 85 feet (26 meters) high. Stone arches and supports hold it up. This tower holds ten bells. Outside, there are over two hundred carvings. Some of these are gargoyles, which are decorative water drains.

Inside the Church

Inside the main worship area, ten stone angels support the ceiling beams. Several windows have beautiful stained glass. One window was made by Tiffany, and another by LaFarge. The window above the altar was created by Franz Mayer & Co. from Germany. The church also has a large organ with 1200 pipes. It was made by the Jardine Company in New York City.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Iglesia Episcopal de la Trinidad para niños

kids search engine
Trinity Episcopal Church (Detroit) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.