Old Trinity Church | |
Location | Church St., Brooklyn, Connecticut |
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Coordinates | 41°48′0.5466″N 71°55′26.976″W / 41.800151833°N 71.92416000°W |
Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
Built | 1771 |
Architectural style | Georgian |
NRHP reference No. | 70000703[1] |
Added to NRHP | October 5, 1970 |
Trinity Church is a historic church in Brooklyn, Connecticut. Completed in 1771 and little altered since, it is the oldest Episcopal church in the state.[2] Its congregation now meets mainly in a newer church at 7 Providence Street in Brooklyn Center, but still uses this building for special events. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 1970.[1]
Trinity Church is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the center of Brooklyn, on the east side of Church Street near its junction with Brown Road. It is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, with hip roof and clapboarded exterior. The siding is largely original, held in place by hand-cut nails. Ground-floor windows are set in segmented-arch openings, while the second-story windows are taller, and set in round-arch openings. The main facade is three bays wide, with a round-arch opening framed by pilasters and a fully pedimented gable. The interior has its original box pews, whose doors are mounted on wrought iron hinges. It also has the original pulpit and reading desk.[3]
Much of the money and effort to build the church came from Anglican churchman Godfrey Malbone, as a response to efforts to build a Congregational meetinghouse. Under Malbone's supervision, Trinity Church was finished in April 1771, ahead of the Congregational church. It is the oldest surviving Anglican church building in Connecticut.[2] It is modeled on churches designed by Peter Harrison, and was built in part with the labor of slaves supplied by Malbone.[3]