Holy Trinity Church of Georgetown
Encyclopedia
Holy Trinity Catholic Church, was established in 1794 and is located at 3513 N Street, N.W. between 35th and 36th Streets, in Georgetown
, Washington, D.C.
, in the United States
. It is one of the oldest churches to have remained in continuous operation in the city.
Holy Trinity was founded by Archbishop
John Carroll, the first Catholic
bishop
in America
and a cousin
of Charles Carroll
, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
.
The original structure was built on N Street, but soon proved inadequate to accommodate a growing congregation. In 1829, the congregation erected a larger sanctuary to the west of the original facing 36th Street. The first church continues to serve the congregation as the Chapel of St. Ignatius.
During the American Civil War
, the US government used the church as a hospital to treat more than 200 injured soldiers after the Second Battle of Bull Run
in 1862. The government returned the building to the congregation in 1863 and later reimbursed them $350 for use of the building.
President John F. Kennedy
and his family frequently worshiped at Holy Trinity; Kennedy is commemorated by a plaque in front of the church building. The parish is administered by the Jesuits
.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is one of the oldest churches to have remained in continuous operation in the city.
Holy Trinity was founded by Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
John Carroll, the first Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and a cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of Charles Carroll
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a wealthy Maryland planter and an early advocate of independence from Great Britain. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as United States Senator for Maryland...
, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
.
The original structure was built on N Street, but soon proved inadequate to accommodate a growing congregation. In 1829, the congregation erected a larger sanctuary to the west of the original facing 36th Street. The first church continues to serve the congregation as the Chapel of St. Ignatius.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the US government used the church as a hospital to treat more than 200 injured soldiers after the Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
in 1862. The government returned the building to the congregation in 1863 and later reimbursed them $350 for use of the building.
President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and his family frequently worshiped at Holy Trinity; Kennedy is commemorated by a plaque in front of the church building. The parish is administered by the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
.
External links
- Holy Trinity Catholic Church Official site