Trinity United Methodist Church (Lafayette, Indiana) facts for kids
Trinity United Methodist Church is a very old church in Lafayette, Indiana. It was started in 1824, even before Lafayette became a city! The first meetings were held in an old log courthouse. The church officially began in 1827 with just ten members. Today, you can find Trinity United Methodist Church at 314 North Sixth Street in Lafayette.
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Church History
How Trinity Church Started
In 1824, a Methodist preacher named Eli P. Farmer helped start the first church in Lafayette, Indiana. He was a "circuit rider," which meant he traveled around to different towns to preach. This church later became Trinity United Methodist Church.
Early Buildings
The first church building was built in 1830 on Sixth Street. It cost $1,500 to build. In 1836, the church moved to a new spot at Fifth and Ferry streets. They stayed there until 1845, when they moved into another building on Fifth Street.
The Trinity Name and New Building
In 1868, the church bought land at Sixth and North streets for $7,000. A part of the new building, called the Chapel, was finished in 1869. The main worship area, called the Sanctuary, was completed in 1873. It was officially opened on March 23, 1873. The whole building cost $90,000. In 1869, the church was officially named Trinity. This happened because other Methodist churches were starting in the area.
Beautiful Stained Glass
Trinity's beautiful stained glass windows were designed by Edna Browning Ruby. She was a famous artist from Lafayette. She also created stained glass windows for other churches nearby. These included Stidham United Methodist Church and Elston Presbyterian Church.
Digging the Basement
One of the biggest changes to the church building happened in the 1930s. In 1933, a Sunday school class called "Homebuilders" decided to make the basement bigger. They dug out the entire area by hand! They carried out all the dirt in buckets. This hard work created the space for the Fellowship Hall, Friendship Room, and kitchen. Many updates and building projects have happened at the church since then.
What Trinity Church Does Today
Trinity is known as a "Welcoming and Reconciling Congregation." This means they are part of a group that welcomes everyone, no matter who they are. Trinity offers a mix of worship styles. They sing traditional hymns with a pipe organ and modern songs with a piano. The sermons are based on the Bible and offer helpful advice for daily life.
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