One particularly special recent historic milestone was Trinity Episcopal Church’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places in June, 2020. The church was recognized for its significance to LGBTQ+ history—the first site in Missouri, and only one of twenty locations nationwide, to be thus recognized. The honor acknowledged Trinity’s commitment to LGBTQ+ parishioners and community members from 1969 to 1993, well before wider social acceptance took hold. Because Covid barred us from gathering indoors in 2020, the city of St. Louis closed the street to traffic so that we could celebrate this historic honor together. During a particularly challenging time, the honor reminded us of our proud history and commitments.
Who We Were:
Trinity’s History
Trinity was founded in 1855 after 60 members of St. George’s Episcopal Church petitioned to start a new parish after a dispute about high vs. low worship. Our founders were enslavers, but as history has changed, we have too. During the turbulent Reconstruction period immediately after the Civil War, our congregation was already involved—and later remained involved—in outreach to and uplift struggling Black families and others in need. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the church relocated around the city until it settled in our present location in 1935. In celebration of our 150th anniversary, then-mayor Francis Slay declared February 11, 2005, Trinity Episcopal Church Day in recognition of our vocal and visible presence caring for the vulnerable across our city.
Who We Want to Be: Trinity's Future
Trinity—its church and its people—are amazing. Our grit, commitment, and resilience, especially during these last few difficult years, are frankly inspiring. The Covid-19 epidemic presented Trinity with an entirely new challenge. We adapted in creative ways to keep parishioners connected. Yet, much has been lost. Separated from one another, our strong connection dimmed; excitement and engagement faltered. Some of our programs have died off. As government support for the poor has dwindled, we have at times felt overwhelmed by the community’s needs and our own limits.
We are ready to rebuild and grow our ranks. In recent years, university students and young professionals organically have found their way into the pews and into active roles in ministry. Inspired by them, we plan to further integrate them into our congregation and to reach out to other young adults who may be looking for a church home that values both scripture and action. Another important goal is to bring back families with children who left during the pandemic and to invite more families to join us. It is important to us that Trinity serves congregants across the lifespan.
We look forward to finding a rector who will help us fall in love all over again with our wonderful congregation. We need a leader with vision who can offer guidance to help us discover our own visions as well. We need someone who will appeal to our children as well as our elders. We want someone who will strike the balance between our spiritual and theological needs and our call to carry out God’s word in our city, who will keep us rooted while branching out in new ways.