Trinity Episcopal Church

Significance

Trinity Church was founded in 1893 as a mission of Christ Church in what was then called the Fairground Addition, now Midtown, and is the second oldest Episcopal parish in Houston. The present Gothic Revival church dates from 1919 and was designed by Cram and Ferguson, the Boston firm whose Houston work also includes the Julia Ideson Building and buildings at Rice University. At one time Trinity was among the largest parishes in the Episcopal Church, with members including Walter Cronkite and Denton Cooley, before membership declined as residents moved to the suburbs in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1990 the parish founded Lord of the Streets, a ministry to Houstonians experiencing homelessness. Its Morrow Chapel was renovated in 2002 with stained glass and artwork by artists including Kermit Oliver. The church was listed on the National Register in 1983 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1986.

Climate risks tracked

Trinity's tall stone tower, pinnacles and large traceried windows are the parts of the church most at risk in hurricanes and severe thunderstorms. Wind can loosen pinnacles and stress window tracery, and hail can break historic glass. Exterior protective glazing, installed with ventilation so heat and moisture do not build up behind it, can shield stained glass with little visual change. Stone masonry absorbs water, and in Houston's humidity trapped moisture and deteriorated joints encourage interior mold and plaster damage. Keeping gutters, downspouts and roof valleys clear matters especially for a steep Gothic roof that sheds large volumes of water. Midtown streets can pond during intense rain, so protecting lower level rooms and equipment is also sensible.

Use the preservation assistant to talk through retrofit strategies for these specific threats.

Location

Nearby landmarks

• 1899 · Romanesque Revival

  Fire Station No. 7

• 1925 · Byzantine Revival

  Temple Beth Israel (Original)

• 1929 · Spanish Colonial Revival

  Isabella Court

• 1933 · Romanesque Revival

  Holy Rosary Catholic Church