Staunton's Trinity Episcopal Church, a distinguished example of Early Gothic Revival architecture, was built in 1855 and is the third church that has been constructed on the land purchased by Augusta Parish from William Beverley on April 3, 1750. The present church carries on the distinguished tradition of this parish founded in 1746. - NRHP, 18 January 1972
| Y/M/D | Person | Association | Description | Composition | Food | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y/M/D | Person | Association | Description | Composition | Food | Event |
| 1763/00/00 | First Augusta Parish Church built in 1736, demolished in 1831 | |||||
| 1781/06/07 | Virginia Legislator meets at the Second Augusta Parish Church June 7-23, 1781 | Jack Jouett's Midnight Ride | ||||
| 1832/00/00 | Second Augusta Parish Church sanctuary built in 1832, using bricks from the first building, demolished in 1855 | |||||
| 1855/00/00 | Tiffany Studios | Artisan | Third church sanctuary built, includes seven signed Tiffany stained glass windows | |||
| 1957/00/00 | Milton La Tour Grigg | Architect | Choir loft rebuilt |
| Particulars for Trinity Episcopal Church: | |
|---|---|
| Area of Significance | Architecture |
| Criteria | Architecture-Engineering |
| Sight Category | Building |
| Historic Use | Church Related Residence |
| Architectural Style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria | Historic Event |
| Owner | Private |
| Area of Significance | Religion |
| Historic Use | Religious Property |
The first Augusta Parish Church, completed in 1763, was a brick building with dimensions of forty feet by twenty-five feet. Very little is known of the first building, but it is said to have had entrance steps, a cupola, and blinds. This building played a keen role in several of the state's important historic events. Thc curatcs of the church were actively concerned with the colonial situation and in 1775 they permitted the local freeholders to meet in the Augusta Parish Church to consider their relations with England. Later in 1781 when the Virginia Assembly was forced to flee Richmond by British dragoons under the command of Lt Col Banastre Tarleton, members sought refuge first in Charlottesville and then in Staunton where they convened in Augusta Parish Church. The Diocesan Convention of 1824 was held in the church and it was as this meeting that Alexandria rather than Williamsburg was chosen as the site of the Virginia Theological Seminary. Finally in 1831 the first Augusta Parish Church was taken down and the second church, completed in 1832, was erected adjacent to the site. This second church had dimensions of seventy-three feet six inches by forty-six feet six inches, and was thirty feet high. Brick from the first church was used in the building of the second church. This new building, which was first referred to as Trinity Church in 1833, was quite plain, had an eighty foot tower, and could accommodate six hundred and fifty people.
After approximately twenty years of use, a third church was proposed and in 1855 the main body of the third and present church was completed. It is commonly held that the same unidentified English architect who drew up the plans for the Frances Scott Key hall, then known as Wilmer Hall, at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, was also the architect of the third Trinity Church. This third church was constructed on the site of the first church and the bricks from the 1763 building were used in the keystone of the present building. Rev Thomas T Castleman, the rector at the time of the third church's construction, held that the tower of the 1855 church covers part of the foundation of the first church. He also contended that the north wall of the present building is in the location of the south wall of the first church. In 1870 under the direction of the architect Edwin M Taylor, wings were built to enlarge the church body, and in 1888 the chancel was enlarged and the two bays of arches were built on either side of the altar.
During the War between the States the Virginia Theological Seminary moved from Union occupied Alexandria and was relocated in Trinity Church. The Dean of the Faculty and the hand-full of students converted the Vestry and lecture rooms, located to the east and west of the altar, into class rooms. Redecoration of the third church was carried out in 1936 under the direction of Mr Alexander Trowbridge of Washington, DC, and again in 1957 when the choir loft was rebuilt under the direction of Mr Milton Grigg of Charlottesville. The rectory dates from 1872 and the parish house, the first in Virginia, was built in 1872-1873 and enlarged in 1924. - NRHP, 18 January 1972
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.