Trinity United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1548 8th St. Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Towards a Greater Des Moines MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000380 |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1998 |
Trinity United Methodist Church is a historic church found in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Back then, it was known by its older name, Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.
Contents
History of Trinity Church
The church started as the Prospect Park Methodist Episcopal Church in 1887. Their first church building was built on Washington and Eighth Streets. It was named after the neighborhood it was in, which was then called North Des Moines.
The area and the church did not grow as fast as they hoped. So, they changed their name to North Des Moines Methodist Episcopal Church. They hoped this would help more people join. Later, they changed their name again to Trinity.
In 1910, Trinity hired a group of architects called Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson. They designed the church building you see today. The Hinners Organ Company from Pekin, Illinois built the church's large pipe organ in 1911. This was done while the church was being built.
Community Programs at Trinity
Since 1968, Trinity Church has helped its community in many ways.
- They started a breakfast program to feed children from the neighborhood. This idea came from the local Black Panthers group.
- Since 1987, they have also served an evening meal. They do this with help from a group called Our City Kitchen.
- In 1992, Trinity became the first "Reconciling Congregation" of a United Methodist Church in Iowa. This means the church welcomes and serves all people.
- They have a prison van ministry. This program helps family members visit people who are in prisons in Iowa.
- A Hispanic United Methodist group, Las Americas Comunidad de Fe, also meets at Trinity. They worship and study there. The two church groups share a weekly service that is spoken in two languages. They also share a meal together.
Church Building Design
Trinity United Methodist Church is built in a style called Neoclassical. It is made of brick.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church has many special features:
- A beautiful stained glass dome is above the middle of the main worship area.
- A balcony goes around three sides of the worship area.
- There are rose windows on the north and south walls.
- The walls were once decorated with special patterns.
- The original wooden benches, called pews, are still used today.
Other Areas of the Church
The church also has other important spaces. The pastor's office, a kitchen, and a large room for gatherings are in the basement. An education wing, which is a part of the building for classes, was built on the west side. A hallway with stairs separates the main worship area from the education wing.
Trinity Church is quite special compared to other churches in Des Moines. It takes up almost all of its land. Even churches in the city center usually have small grassy areas around them.
The Pipe Organ
The pipe organ at Trinity Church is one of the larger ones built by the Hinners Organ Company. It is located at the front of the main worship area.
How the Organ Works
- At first, people had to pump air by hand to make the organ pipes play.
- Now, an electric motor helps to blow air into the pipes.
- The organ is still in its original condition, just as it was when it was first installed.
- Because it is so well-preserved, this pipe organ is considered a very important part of the church's historic listing.
The organ has two main keyboards and a pedal keyboard played with feet. It has 18 stops, which are controls that change the sound. It also has 17 sets of pipes, called ranks.
