Trinity Episcopal Church (St. Louis, Missouri) facts for kids

Trinity Episcopal Church is a special church located in the Central West End area of St. Louis, Missouri. It's known for being a welcoming place for all people, especially for the LGBTQ community, starting way back in 1969. Because of its important history, the church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. This means it's a historic landmark!

History of Trinity Episcopal Church

Early Beginnings of the Church

The Episcopal Church built a small church in St. Louis, Missouri, in the late 1800s. This church was called the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Later, it joined with another church group, the St. James Memorial Church. They moved the St. James building to the same spot. The combined group, now called the Church of the Redeemer, used this building until 1935. In that year, the Trinity Episcopal Church, which started in 1855, bought the building and began to use it.

A Welcoming Place for Everyone

By 1954, the church added a new hall. The neighborhood around the church was changing. More African-American and LGBTQ families moved into the area. Trinity Church decided to focus on helping and supporting these new communities.

In 1969, the Mandrake Society was formed. This was the first group in St. Louis to support the LGBTQ community. By the summer, Trinity Church was hosting their meetings. The church helped the group financially. For example, they helped pay for the legal defense of nine men. These men were arrested because of unfair rules against LGBTQ people in October 1969. By the end of that year, the Mandrake Society grew from 18 members to over 150! Trinity Church also paid for the group's newsletter. In return, the newsletter helped tell people about the church. In the 1970s, Trinity Church also hosted local chapters of other groups. These included the Gay Liberation Front and Integrity.

Supporting Those in Need

In 1984, the city's first group to help people with AIDS was started. This group was formed by activists in the Central West End. Soon, it moved into the church's North Parish Hall. Trinity Church became a safe place for people who were sick and often treated unfairly. One person was Rev. Charles Bewick. He was a church leader who lost his job because he was sick. He passed away from AIDS in 1989. That year, many church members marched in the St. Louis Pride Parade. They marched to honor Rev. Bewick. Trinity Church also held funerals for people who passed away from AIDS. Other places sometimes refused to help them.

Leading the Way for Acceptance

In 1987, Rev. Bill Chapman began to privately bless same-sex partnerships. In 1990, Rev. Susan Nanny joined the church as a co-rector. She was openly lesbian. On July 27, 1991, Rev. Chapman publicly performed a same-sex ceremony. This was the first time this happened in front of the church group. At first, these actions were not popular with everyone in the Diocese of Missouri. However, the diocese approved same-sex unions in 1996. On February 8, 1993, the church hosted a special meeting. City leaders discussed gay and lesbian rights. This was the first meeting of its kind in the city.

In 2020, Trinity Church became the first place in Missouri to be recognized for its LGBTQ history. The State Historic Preservation Office approved it. Then, the National Park Service listed it on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

• LGBT historic places in the United States