Trinity History

Parishioners of Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, 1839-1960

The membership forms the bedrock of every church. Those who attend services are the church. From its beginning, Trinity Church attracted membership from various groups: immigrants of English, Canadian, or Irish birth who had been Anglicans in their former homes; Episcopalians who had come to Fort Wayne from the East; and newcomers to the faith, who were attracted to Trinity by the liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer and the fact that the atmosphere was not overly doctrinal or restrictive. By the mid-nineteenth century, Trinity joined First Presbyterian Church as being the two so-called "society" churches that drew many of its members from the upper and upper-middle social classes. The Presbyterian Church was the primary choice of local Republicans in the Civil War period because of its strong stand against slavery, which Trinity attracted many prominent Democrats, who were eager to unify the country without going to war and took inspiration from the Jacksonian Age and rights of the common man.

Peter P. Bailey, Founder

































































 

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