Trinity Church (Elmira, New York)

Historic church in New York, United States

United States historic place

Trinity Church

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Empire Sports of the Southern Tier

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Location| Elmira, New York
Coordinates| 42°5′24″N 76°48′30″W﻿ / ﻿42.09000°N 76.80833°W﻿ / 42.09000; -76.80833
Built| 1855
Architect| Dudley, Henry; et al.
Architectural style| Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No.| 07001122[1]
Added to NRHP| October 31, 2007

The parish of Trinity Church, Elmira, New York was founded in 1833. Trinity Church is a parish of the Chemung District of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, centered in Syracuse, New York. The present structure of Trinity Church is located at 304 North Main Street, Elmira, New York. Designed by architect Henry Dudley, the church was built from 1855 through 1858. It is significant for its Gothic Revival architecture. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.[2] In 2024, the church was converted into a sports complex.[3]

## History

[edit]

The first recorded Episcopal service in Elmira was conducted by the Right Reverend Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk, D.D., Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York on May 16, 1832.[4][5] Services were again held in Elmira in 1833 conducted by James D. Carder early in the year and by Daniel E. Brown in May.[6] James D. Carder's report given to the 1833 New York Diocesan Convention in New York City stated, "[i]n Elmira, Tioga county, he performed divine service several times previous to the middle of July; and on the 12th of June organized a parish by the name of Trinity Church. He has for some tome looked to that place with much interest, and now contemplates with thanksgiving to God the sure foundation which he believes is there laid for the Church. On the last Lord's day, he had the satisfaction of administering the holy Communion for the first time in that parish. Thirteen communicated, and one was repelled."[7] There were also reported to be three children baptized and one marriage in the parish that year.[8] Trinity Church was incorporated as a parish on June 12, 1833, under the supervision of James D. Carder.[9] The Rev. Thomas Clark is listed as the first rector.[9][10]

Trinity's worship services began simply in a school house where Park Church stands today. As stated by Rev. Clark that Fall in his report to the 1833 Diocesan Convention, "I arrived in Elmira as Missionary to that place on the 20th of July last, and found a small but zealous company of Episcopalians, who received me with the most lively pleasure as their Missionary. Some of them had lived without the services of their Church for several years, not having heard an Episcopal minister at Elmira more than three or four times previously to my arrival. I have commence preaching in the District School Room, which I generally have nearly fill; and it is probable, if we had a church, there would many more attend."[11] As parish membership grew, a need for larger quarters was evident. With comparatively little money, but the commitment of time, energy and building materials from the Church family, a new church edifice was completed in December 1836 at Church Street and Railroad Avenue. The church was consecrated on the morning of Sunday, August 27, 1837, by Rt. Rev. Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk, D.D.[9][12][13]

The present building at Church and Main Streets was designed by Henry Dudley of New York and built by Nichols and Washburn.[14] The cornerstone for the present structure "...was laid with impressive ceremonies," by Right Rev. William Heathcote DeLancey on July 26, 1855.[14] The first service was held in this structure on July 4, 1858, after it was completed.[14] The church building was consecrated by The Right Reverend Arthur Cleveland Coxe, D.D., Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York in services held on April 5, 1866, after the construction debt was discharged.[14]

The Arnot Memorial Chapel was designed by architect Richard M. Upjohn, its cornerstone was laid in 1880.[15] The chapel was consecrated on November 28, 1882, by Right Reverend Frederic Dan Huntington, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York.[16][17] The chapel was built with donations from Mariana Tuttle Arnot-Ogden as a memorial to her parents, John Arnot and Harriet Arnot, her sister, Aurelia Arnot, and her husband, William B. Ogden.[16][18] The principal window over the chancel was designed to symbolically represent the four people whom the chapel memorialized.[17] This window was designed and executed by stained glass craftsman Donald MacDonald of Boston, Massachusetts.[18] The decoration of the interior of the chapel was designed and executed by Cyrus L. W. Eidlitz of New York City.[18]

## Sports complex

[edit]

After closing in September 2020, the church sat dormant until 2023 when it was purchased by a local entrepreneur for conversion to a sports complex.[19] Empire Sports of the Southern Tier features field turf inside the cathedral, batting cages, basketball, cornhole, and other activities.[3][19] The new owner Ryan McFall of Corning, has promised to maintain the church's stained glass windows, pipe organs, and overall brick structure.[3]

## Rectors of Trinity

[edit]

* The Rev. Thomas Clark - July 20, 1833[20][21][22] \- 1836
* The Rev. Richard Smith - February 29, 1836 - May 1838
* The Rev. Gordon Winslow - June 1838 - June 1841
* The Rev. Kendrick Metcalf, D.D. - 1841 - 1842
* The Rev. Stephen Douglas - 1842 -1844
* The Rev. Washington VanZandt - February 1844 - February 1847
* The Rev. Dr. Andrew D. Hull, D.D. - July 1849 - 1866
* The Rev. William Paret \- 1866 - April 1869
* The Rev. George H. McKnight, D.D. - July 1869 - 1905
* The Rev. Charles McKnight - 1906 - September 1911
* The Rev. Herbert L. Hannah - December 1911 - January 1917
* The Rev. Henry E. Hubbard - June 1917 - August 1953
* The Rev. David Kingman - September 1953 December 1974
* The Rev. John C. Humphries, Jr. - September 1975 - December 1997
* The Rev. Dr. William C. Lutz - September 1999– 2022

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
2. ^ Robert T. Englert (December 2006). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination:Trinity Church (Elmira, New York)". Retrieved 2008-09-21. and Accompanying 3 photos, from 2006
3. ^ a b c Madison, Linsey (2 January 2024). "New Empire Sports Complex Getting Ready to Open in Elmira". WENY News. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
4. ^ An Outline History of Tioga and Bradford Counties in Pennsylvania, Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins and Schuyer in New York by Townships, Villages, Boro's and Cities, Sexton, John L., The Gazette Company. Elmira, New York, 1885, page 127
5. ^ History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Pierce, H. B. (Henry B.) and Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), Everts & Ensign, Philadelphia, 1879, page 255.
6. ^ id. p.255
7. ^ Journal of the Proceedings of the Forty-Eighth Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York: Held in Trinity Church, in the City of New York, on Thursday October 1st, and Friday, October 2nd, A.D. 1833. New York: Protestant Episcopal Press, 1833. Page 42
8. ^ id. p. 42
9. ^ a b c Pierce p. 255
10. ^ Historical Sketch of the Chemung Valley, Etc. by T. Apoleon Cheney, Watkins, New York 1868, page 53
11. ^ Journal of the Proceedings of the Forty-Eighth Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York: Held in Trinity Church, in the City of New York, on Thursday October 1st, and Friday, October 2nd, A.D. 1833. New York: Protestant Episcopal Press, 1833. Pages 43-44
12. ^ Sexton, p.127
13. ^ Journal of the Proceedings of the Fifty-Second Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York: Held in Trinity Church, in the City of New York, on Thursday October 5th, Friday, October 6th, and Saturday, October 7th, A.D. 1837. New York: Protestant Episcopal Press, 1837. Page 45
14. ^ a b c d Pierce, p. 256
15. ^ A Brief History of Chemung County New York by Ausburn Towner. New York, A. S. Barnes & Company 1907 page 75.
16. ^ a b Journal of the Fifteenth Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Central New York, 1883, Utica, N.Y., Curtiss & Childs, Printers, 1883 page 33.
17. ^ a b Arnot Memorial Chapel - Affection's Tribute to the Departed, New York Times, November 24, 1882, page 5.
18. ^ a b c id
19. ^ a b Brandon Kyc, Nicolas Dubina (11 September 2023). "Former Elmira church to become new sports complex". Elmira, New York: WETM-18. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
20. ^ Journal of the Proceedings of the Forty-Eighth Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York: Held in Trinity Church, in the City of New York, on Thursday October 1st, and Friday, October 2nd, A.D. 1833. New York: Protestant Episcopal Press, 1833. Pages 43
21. ^ Peirce p. 255.
22. ^ Cheney p. 53

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