Trinity Episcopal Church (Kirksville, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Trinity Episcopal Church
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 124 N Mulanix St., Kirksville, Missouri |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Dunbar, Irwin; Eggert and Russell |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001338 |
| Added to NRHP | January 2, 2008 |
Trinity Episcopal Church is a beautiful old church building in Kirksville, Missouri, United States. It is located at 124 N Mulanix Street. This church has a special mix of building styles, making it unique. In January 2008, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site in the country. It is also the second-oldest church in Kirksville that has been used by the same church group for a long time.
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History of Trinity Episcopal Church
The Trinity Episcopal Church group started in Kirksville way back in 1870. It began as a small mission to help people in the area. The very first church building was made of wood. It was built in 1870 on the same spot where the current church stands today. This wooden church served the community until 1916.
In 1907, a fire caused a lot of damage to the old wooden church. Even after repairs, it was clear the building wouldn't last much longer. So, in October 1915, the church group asked the Episcopal Diocese for help. They successfully got money to build a new church.
Building the New Church
A well-known local architect named Irwin Dunbar was chosen to design the new church. He was also a member of the church group. In 1916, the old wooden church was taken down to make room for the new building. Construction started in the spring of 1917. A local company called Eggert & Russel was chosen to do the building work.
The first stone of the new church, called the cornerstone, was placed on May 14, 1917. The building was finished very quickly! The new church was officially opened on November 7, 1917. The total cost to build the church was $11,555. The Diocese helped by giving $5,500 towards the cost.
Church Design and Style
The church was built using a mix of styles: Bungalow/Craftsman and Gothic Revival. It measures about 37 feet wide and 67 feet long. Because of the 1907 fire, the church group decided to use bricks instead of wood. Bricks cost a bit more, but they are much safer.
The building is not perfectly even on both sides, which is called asymmetrical. It also sits on a raised basement. When designing the inside, Irwin Dunbar added features that mixed the Craftsman and Gothic Revival styles. He also used ideas from his background as an engineer. One cool feature is the open beam ceiling in the main worship area, called the nave. These beams are made from black walnut wood. They hold up the heavy English tile roof without needing big columns in the way. Black walnut wood was used a lot inside the church for trim, window frames, and other details.
Trinity Episcopal Church Today
The main worship area of the church still looks much like it did when it was first built. In 1998, a flat part of the roof was changed to a sloped one. Other than updates to the electricity, plumbing, and heating/cooling systems, the inside of the church is mostly the same.
In 2015, the church added a new section to make it easier for everyone to enter and move around. This project was designed by Chinn, Rother, and Associates. The new part includes a lift, a wider entrance, and new restrooms. As part of this update, one of the original stained glass windows was moved from the main worship area to the new addition.
Wicks Pipe Organ
The church has a wonderful pipe organ. It was built in 1967 by the Wicks Organ Company from Illinois. Later, another set of pipes called a Dulzian rank was added. This organ uses air to make music, and you can see its pipes at the front of the room. In 2015, the organ was updated by Quimby Pipe Organs from Missouri.
