Trinity Episcopal Church (Chocowinity, North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
Trinity Episcopal Church, Chocowinity, North Carolina
, is an Episcopal parish established in 1774 by the Reverend Nathaniel Blount.
In 1773, Nathaniel Blount sailed from Bath, NC
to London
, England
to be ordained a priest
. The Bishop of London
ordained Mr. Blount to the priesthood in Saint Paul's Cathedral, London
. Upon his return to Bath, "Parson Blount," as he was known, had a church built. Giles Shute and John Herrington served as carpenter
s, according to a signed wooden panel in the sanctuary. The little building became known as Blount's Chapel.
In 1826, the Right Rev'd John Stark Ravenscroft consecrated the building as Trinity Church, a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
. During the nineteenth century, the Grimes family were active in this parish. The Grimes held large tracts of land in Beaufort
and Pitt Counties
.
The nearby town of Grimesland
was named for them. Major General Bryan Grimes
of the Confederate Army was a member of the parish. The parish's centennial in 1874 was marked by the addition of a formal chancel
and sanctuary with stained glass
windows. In 1883, Trinity Church became part of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina
, following the subdivision of the Diocese of North Carolina.
During the first half of the twentieth century, the Rev'd N. C. Hughes, Jr, Trinity's rector, was influential in encouraging Chocowinity's citizens to retain the name of their town. There were citizens who desired to change the name. Belview was one of the names considered. Hughes is also credited with learning the meaning of the name of the town from an Indian in South Carolina
who offered a translation, "fish from many waters." By keeping this Indian word, the town has retained a unique name for itself.
In 1939, the church building was moved on log rollers drawn by horses from its original location to a plot of land owned by the parish. The parish hall (built ca 1900) already stood on this site, and the church was placed alongside that building.
A two story addition was built in 1949 to provide room for Sunday School
, office
s, a kitchen
, and general purpose space.
The historic chapel
has remained in continuous use since it was built in 1774.
Trinity Church is located at 182 NC Hwy 33 West in Chocowinity.
. Many notable town leaders and Beaufort County citizens were buried therein, including Revolutionary and Civil War
veterans. Penelope and Aspley Grist (sisters) donated further tracts of land to expand the cemetery. The Major General Bryan Grimes
cenotaph
was erected in the center of the cemetery in his memory and has remained a popular site for Civil War enthusiasts and historians to visit.
The cemetery has continued to serve the parish and community to the present day. In August 2011, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaufort County, North Carolina.
Deacons
Chocowinity, North Carolina
Chocowinity is a town in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 720 at the 2008 census...
, is an Episcopal parish established in 1774 by the Reverend Nathaniel Blount.
In 1773, Nathaniel Blount sailed from Bath, NC
Bath, North Carolina
Bath is a town in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 268 at the 2008 census. Incorporated in 1705, Bath was North Carolina's first port of entry. Bath is North Carolina's oldest town, celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2005...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to be ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. The Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
ordained Mr. Blount to the priesthood in Saint Paul's Cathedral, London
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
. Upon his return to Bath, "Parson Blount," as he was known, had a church built. Giles Shute and John Herrington served as carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
s, according to a signed wooden panel in the sanctuary. The little building became known as Blount's Chapel.
In 1826, the Right Rev'd John Stark Ravenscroft consecrated the building as Trinity Church, a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, founded in 1817, roughly corresponds to the segment of the U.S. state of North Carolina between I-77 in the west and I-95 in the east, including the most populous area of the state. Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cary, and Durham are the...
. During the nineteenth century, the Grimes family were active in this parish. The Grimes held large tracts of land in Beaufort
Beaufort County, North Carolina
- Law and government :Beaufort County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.Beaufort County is one of the proposed sites for a Navy outlying landing field. This practice airfield would allow pilots to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier...
and Pitt Counties
Pitt County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 133,798 people, 52,539 households, and 32,258 families residing in the county. The population density was 205 people per square mile . There were 58,408 housing units at an average density of 90 per square mile...
.
The nearby town of Grimesland
Grimesland, North Carolina
Grimesland is a town in Pitt County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 472 at the 2008 census. The town is a part of the Greenville Metropolitan Area located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region.-Geography:...
was named for them. Major General Bryan Grimes
Bryan Grimes
Bryan Grimes was a North Carolina plantation owner and a general officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He fought in nearly all of the major battles of the Eastern Theater of that war....
of the Confederate Army was a member of the parish. The parish's centennial in 1874 was marked by the addition of a formal chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
and sanctuary with stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows. In 1883, Trinity Church became part of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina was formed on October 9, 1883 by action of the General Convention. It consists of the congregations of the Episcopal Church in the eastern portion of the state of North Carolina and forms part of Province 4 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of...
, following the subdivision of the Diocese of North Carolina.
During the first half of the twentieth century, the Rev'd N. C. Hughes, Jr, Trinity's rector, was influential in encouraging Chocowinity's citizens to retain the name of their town. There were citizens who desired to change the name. Belview was one of the names considered. Hughes is also credited with learning the meaning of the name of the town from an Indian in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
who offered a translation, "fish from many waters." By keeping this Indian word, the town has retained a unique name for itself.
In 1939, the church building was moved on log rollers drawn by horses from its original location to a plot of land owned by the parish. The parish hall (built ca 1900) already stood on this site, and the church was placed alongside that building.
A two story addition was built in 1949 to provide room for Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
, office
Office
An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
s, a kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
, and general purpose space.
The historic chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
has remained in continuous use since it was built in 1774.
Trinity Church is located at 182 NC Hwy 33 West in Chocowinity.
Trinity Episcopal Cemetery
In the mid-nineteenth century, land was given to the parish to serve as a cemeteryCemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
. Many notable town leaders and Beaufort County citizens were buried therein, including Revolutionary and 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...
veterans. Penelope and Aspley Grist (sisters) donated further tracts of land to expand the cemetery. The Major General Bryan Grimes
Bryan Grimes
Bryan Grimes was a North Carolina plantation owner and a general officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He fought in nearly all of the major battles of the Eastern Theater of that war....
cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
was erected in the center of the cemetery in his memory and has remained a popular site for Civil War enthusiasts and historians to visit.
The cemetery has continued to serve the parish and community to the present day. In August 2011, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaufort County, North Carolina.
List of Priests and Deacons who have served Trinity Episcopal Church
- The Rev'd Nathaniel Blount
- The Rev'd Israel Harding
- The Rev'd Nathaniel Harding
- The Rev'd Nicholas Collin Hughes
- The Rev'd Nicholas Collin Hughes, Jr. (later served as Archdeacon of Raleigh)
- The Rev'd Alexander C. D. Noe
- The Rev'd Charles Malone
- The Rev'd Samuel Black
- The Rev'd James Alves
- The Rev'd Richard Ottaway
- The Rev'd Fred Ferris
- The Rev'd Kenneth Townsend
- The Rev'd Irwin Hulbert
- The Rev'd Jeremiah Day
- The Rev'd Lawrence P. Houston
- The Rev'd William Bomar Etters
- The Rev'd Michael C. Nation
- The Rev'd James Cooke
- The Rev'd J. M. Browne, III
Deacons
- The Rev'd Deacon Susan Moody DuVal
- The Venerable Joy Morgan Dosher