Trinity United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Trinity United Methodist Church, is located in Des Moines, Iowa
, United States
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1998 as Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, which is its previous name.
Trinity enlisted the architectural firm of Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson in 1910 to design the present church building. John Hinners of Pekin, Illinois
built the 17-rank tracker pipe organ
when the church building was being constructed in 1911. Space for the pastor’s office, a kitchen and fellowship were located in the basement and an education wing was also built,
Since 1968 Trinity has hosted, with the support of the Inner City Cooperative Parish, a breakfast program to feed children from the neighborhood, which had been suggested by the local Black Panthers. An evening meal has been served since 1987 in collaboration with Our City Kitchen. In 1992 Trinity became the first “Reconciling Congregation” of a United Methodist Church in Iowa, by which it serves all people regardless of sexual orientation
. A prison van ministry brings family members of those incarcerated in Iowa’s prisons for visits. The Las Americas Comunidad de Fe, a Hispanic United Methodist Community, worships and studies at Trinity. The two congregations share a weekly bilingual service and communal meal.
. The interior features, a stained glass
dome above the center of the sanctuary, a balcony that wraps around three sides of the sanctuary and rose window
s on the north and south elevations. Originally, the plaster walls were stenciled. The original pews are still in use.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1998 as Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, which is its previous name.
History
The congregation was organized as Prospect Park Methodist Episcopal Church when their first church building was constructed on the corner of Washington and Eighth Streets in 1845. The church grew slower than expected so they changed their name to North Des Moines Methodist Episcopal Church in the hopes of growing their membership. It changed its name yet again to Trinity.Trinity enlisted the architectural firm of Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson in 1910 to design the present church building. John Hinners of Pekin, Illinois
Pekin, Illinois
Pekin is a the county seat of Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located on the Illinois River, Pekin is also the largest city of Tazewell County, and a key part of the Peoria metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population is 34,094. A small portion of the city limits extends...
built the 17-rank tracker pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
when the church building was being constructed in 1911. Space for the pastor’s office, a kitchen and fellowship were located in the basement and an education wing was also built,
Since 1968 Trinity has hosted, with the support of the Inner City Cooperative Parish, a breakfast program to feed children from the neighborhood, which had been suggested by the local Black Panthers. An evening meal has been served since 1987 in collaboration with Our City Kitchen. In 1992 Trinity became the first “Reconciling Congregation” of a United Methodist Church in Iowa, by which it serves all people regardless of sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
. A prison van ministry brings family members of those incarcerated in Iowa’s prisons for visits. The Las Americas Comunidad de Fe, a Hispanic United Methodist Community, worships and studies at Trinity. The two congregations share a weekly bilingual service and communal meal.
Architecture
Trinity United Methodist Church is a Classical Revival style building built of brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
. The interior features, a 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...
dome above the center of the sanctuary, a balcony that wraps around three sides of the sanctuary and rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
s on the north and south elevations. Originally, the plaster walls were stenciled. The original pews are still in use.
See also
Other United Methodist Churches in Des Moines on the National Register of Historic Places:- Burns United Methodist ChurchBurns United Methodist ChurchBurns United Methodist Church is located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.-History:...
- First United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa)First United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa)First United Methodist Church is located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984 as First Methodist Episcopal Church, which is its original name.-History:...