Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Melbourne, Florida)

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Religion
AffiliationEpiscopal
Location
Location50 West Strawbridge Avenue
Melbourne, Florida
Geographic coordinates28°04′49″N 80°37′23″W / 28.080206°N 80.623166°W / 28.080206; -80.623166
Architecture
Architect(s)Built by George J. Gingras of Cocoa & C. T. McBride[1][2]
Completed1886[3][4]
MaterialsWood[4]
Website
Website

The Holy Trinity Episcopal Church was a historic church currently located at 50 West Strawbridge Avenue, Melbourne, Florida, United States. It is the oldest established church of any denomination in the city.[5]

History

The church was built between July and November 1886 and the Reverend Dr. William Porcher DuBose presided over the first service on December 27, 1886.[1][3] The church was originally located on the south bank of Crane Creek in Melbourne on land purchased from the Wright Brothers through a gift from Lucy Boardman.[1][3] Members on the north side of Crane Creek traveled by boat and later by footbridge to attend services.[4] For easier access, the congregation moved the church in 1897 to the north side of the creek.[3][4] The new site was located on the Corner of Fee Avenue and U.S. 1 in Melbourne on land donated by William and Nora Stanford Wells.[4] Jessie S. Goode provided the belfry and bell in 1923 as a gift to the church.[3] The congregation renovated the church in 1927 and moved it again in 1963 to its current location.[3][4]

The Congregation

The church congregation initially organized in June 1884 at the home of Richard W. Goode.[3] Other founding members included the Campbell, Ellis, Ely, Grubb and Miller families—many of the prominent people of the area at the time.[3][4] The congregation officially became a parish in 1949 and purchased land on Strawbridge Avenue for the construction of a new sanctuary, church offices and school classrooms.[6] In 1958, the parish expanded the school, which later became Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy.[6]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Melbourne, Florida).

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Sign in front of the church.
  2. ^ Melbourne Chamber of Commerce. Melbourne: A Century of Memories (Melbourne, FL: National Printing, Inc., 1980), p. 49.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Brevard County Historical Commission. Historic Brevard: Your Guide to Historic Landmarks in Brevard County (2006), p. 25.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Brevard County Historical Commission and the Florida Department of State. Holy Trinity Historical Marker located at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 2005.
  5. ^ Downs, Megan (22 March 2009). "Holy Trinity begins work on new building". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 5B.
  6. ^ a b Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. "About Us", Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy website. Retrieved on January 02, 2008.
  • Sign in front of church
    Sign in front of church
  • Historical Marker at the church
    Historical Marker at the church