How old is trinity church

Trinity began as a congregation of Anglicans in The building itself, designed by Richard Munday, was completed in and clearly reflects the needs of the people at that time.

We know, without a doubt, that we are in the house of the Lord. Our primary identity is as an active parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, and yet we know that the heritage of our beautiful church building is a priceless gift that we must maintain and pass on to the succeeding generations. Let us tell you a little bit of our story, and invite you to come and visit us whenever you are in Newport.

The Anglican Church came relatively late to Newport; early settlers moved here to get away from the Church of England. The congregation quickly outgrew its home, and in built the church in which we worship today. The box pews helped to keep warmth during the winter before the building was heated — and today provide excellent enclosures for wandering toddlers. Their various shapes and sizes reflect the individuality of the members of the congregation, who paid for their own pews as a way of defraying the cost of the building.

The first and second bays at the altar end were added in , as the congregation continued to expand. A striking feature in Trinity Church is the wine-glass or chalice-shaped pulpit. At times the site was all but abandoned, but a small group of folk have kept alive the church and the graveyard as a regional burial ground.

Behind the apse is buried Bishop William McClelland, who as Rector in , established the first of several endowments to provide for the care and maintenance of the Church and graveyard. Framed by ancient trees, the cemetery is meticulously kept and continues to be in active use. Through the good offices of U. Senator George Radcliffe, Col.

Edgar W. From to they restored the building to a 17th Century ideal as a memorial to Mrs. The wooden flooring and other 19th Century furniture were removed. The original floor tiles were discovered under the floor and reset. Because the walls were in very bad repair a steel frame was put in place but the original bricks were replaced with traditional burnt oystershell mortar.

We have in our possession the original deed dated January 30, in which Thomas Graves conveyed three acres of land to Joshua Carpenter and John Moore in trust of Oxford Church, which were to be for "the use and service of those of the communion of our holy mother, the Church of England, and to no other use or used whatsoever".

A new church building was erected in with bricks most probably imported from England. Its dimensions were 25 feet wide by 35 feet long, being the western end of our present building. For many years however, it was without either pews or floor, and for a still longer time without any facilities for heat.

A solid silver communion chalice was presented by Queen Anne of England to the church in , as a token of her love for this new colonial church. In the 18th century, several of our rectors had ring-side seats in national affairs:. The Rev. Aneas Ross rector was the father-in-law of Betsy Ross, who made the first "Stars and Stripes", and the brother of George Ross, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

William Smith rector , founded what is now the University of Pennsylvania. In Mr. Benjamin Cottman represented Trinity at a meeting with the Rev. William White to organize the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Trinity was admitted into Convention in In the midth century, the Rev. Edward Buchanan rector was the brother of President James Buchanan, and Trinity numbered many prosperous industrialists among its members.

In the latter part of the century, Frank Furness designed additions to the Church and the interior was decorated with Tiffany windows and elaborately carved woodwork. The Buchanan Building was erected for the Church School. In the twentieth century, the farms and gentry of the area gave way to middle class homes and working people.