Trinity Episcopal Church | |
---|---|
Location | 205
East Montezuma Avenue Houghton, Michigan [a] |
Coordinates | 47°07′16″N 88°34′16″W / 47.121°N 88.571°W |
Built | 1906-1910 [1] |
Architect | John Sutcliffe |
Architectural style(s) | Gothic Revival |
Governing body | Private |
Designated | July 17, 1986 |
Trinity Episcopal Church is a Gothic Revival-style Episcopal church at 205 East Montezuma Avenue in Houghton, Michigan. [2] [a] It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site on July 17, 1986. It is the second of two church buildings to exist on the site; the current one replaced a wooden structure in 1910. The church's philosophy is built on the Oxford Movement. [3]
The parish was founded on July 17, 1860, when the Episcopal Bishop of Michigan, Reverend Samuel A. McCoskry, [b] met with nine businessmen from Houghton and Hancock. [1] The first clergyman sent to serve the church, upon arriving in Houghton on a Saturday, immediately departed on the vessel that had carried him. [4] Public services were first held on September 15, 1860. [1] The name Trinity Church was chosen at the first vestry meeting, held on July 13, 1861. [1]
The church's first permanent home was a wooden building across the Portage Canal in Hancock, [3] built on land donated by the Quincy Mining Company. [4] However, it was soon decided that the structure would be moved to Houghton, on land owned by Shelden, a member of the church. [3] The church was placed on a barge overnight, but it came free of its bounds and was found floating free in the morning. [3] It was successfully recovered and transferred to Houghton, where it remained until 1910. [3]
The wooden church was demolished in early 1910 to make way for the current church, built of brick and Jacobsville Sandstone, which was completed on Easter that same year. [1] In 1995, a two-story addition was built to house the pastor's office. [3] The current church was designated a Michigan State Historic Site on July 17, 1986, and an informational marker was erected on April 24, 1987. [1]
The church is a brick structure built in the Gothic Revival style. [1] The basement façade, copings, and trim are all made of Jacobsville Sandstone. [1] The building has a square tower at one corner capped with crenellations. [1]
The building architect was John B. Sutcliffe and interior artwork and carvings were done by Alois Lang. [1] The interior design of the church was influenced by the Oxford Movement. [1] The roof's wooden trusses are exposed as arches that span the nave. [1] The church houses an Austin Organ, opus 419, [5] which was installed in 1913. [6]