The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-03
YHB MOTHER OF CHURCHES.
Origin and History Of Trinity Methodist
Church.
OLDEST SACRED EDlFl E III Richmond,
its Closely Connected with ,hc proer..s
Oh "''hodism In this City-Ii.. of tho
distinguished Ministers who uax.
Had Charge of 1.-THE Ola s,,.
and the New

OF MethodJs, .rt church is the mother
building 10 ',nuiches In the city. Tins
corner or Broad ana ,r,.o,', 80 Aoi 1n-east
iD"oiiS on Broad II h. s'ieees'
~" 'uilice, painted a drah 90, - ny
-. SuIIi'ounted with an inr.os,,',' V's,,
~ o'ocPie. Stone stems lead ,,,, 80.
49, Pa'cH'tnt 10 the church-vsrd t,at
49,, - ihd with brick. and ,.r,a.. 49,
,y rover with the street AZ 80 ess,e,,'
,~e,,'' 10 SIX feet or more AT The o.
cloeea ~ boundary. This ward IS en-
fenco /" substantial and ornate iron
80, me lecturc-rOom. or sunday
sc''oi room, which IS the h,e,oo,,,, a..
~" /" ieVel with the ward. This i,rgc
r., 'VHlhodiCus room has a. ,esttbuIe
- N"ailcel and pulpit are situated at
gar OF the room, and TO tho rfebf
".V pulpit recess is a door leading into
H"aht-class' room. which latter IL
"4So inc room for the various society
,,''etilSs' ana the use of the Official
20. a night Of solid stone steps leads
~ rom the yard to the entrance TO the
.1vi'orluin, which entrance Is a large
onu pretty vesubulc, a flight Of carpetfed
s'oss' extending its cnirs length leading
"P 70 tho landing. which extends between
sue doors, situated at either extrerni-
" OF this landing The main entrance
u"oIs are Immediately in the center of
lhe wall. which forms the Outward"
mint OF the auditorium. The side doors
each lead into a vestibule I'm which the
gallery steps appear and there is another
door leading from each Of these vostibules
10 the main auditorium. In this large
vestibulc are prcttily framed ana excel
lent diagrams OF the interior Of the
church the situation and number OF
pews. &c, and there are number OF
neat iight-flxturos which brilliantly H.
illuminate as well as ornament the spa
cious vestbule- The walls and ceiling OF
the interior OF the church are beautifully
q kalsominei and painted I'm a manner that
pleases the eye. There are four rows Of
pews. which are nicely cushioned and
arranged in the form of somewhat a
semi-circlo There lis an alcOve pulpit
and pleasing chancol gallery extends
the entire length of the auditorium on
each side and the organ-loft. I'm which
Is situated a magnificent pipe organ, con-
meets the two galleries above the main
entrance Trinity is indeed an imposing
church edifce both externally and in
ternally. and is complete IN all fits APP
pointments for the convenience and COM
fort OF its congregation
HISTORY or TIE CHURCH.
But this church has a history and as
ITS history forms a very important
indeed. an essential part Of the history
Of Methodism in Richmond. we subtoin
some matters of record and reminis-
cence which will not only be of pecu-
liar interest to the Methodist people but
10 the public at large The data from
which We compile his sketch has been
secured by personal interviews with sew
ersil Of the Oldest members Of this Moth
er Of Richmond MethOdism" from Rev
Or Benefits Memorials of Methodisrn"
and from a history Of Trinity Sunday
school. compiled by Mr.. Thomas W. Penn
berton. and published by request Of the
school I'm 1883.
In 1896 there were not over twenty
MethOdists In Richmond These had no
church. but met in the County Court
house. and held praycr-meetings and
cls ss-meotngs IN private houses Glass
meetings" were an essential feature of
earlier methOdism. and are TO some eX-
tent still I'm vogue. The membership was
divided into GLASSES" and leader
wa assigned each class. whose duty it
was 10 look after the spiritual interest OF
his class enquire into any manifested
lack Of zeal and loyalty. &c. The class
meetings We're largely experience meet
ings," and no doubt not ia the grand
assign" many a won crown will be- at
trihutablc TO these truly piOus gatherings
and GLASSES" In 1872 Thomas LNcU
was appointed 10 this city and after sur
veying the city he found religion. as COM
pared with the population, at a very
low cbb and decidedly "unfashionablc'
lie determined. however. 10 build
church. Ina the meantime he secured the
privilege Of preaching i'm the Capitol every
Sunday afternoon. Thix innovation was
n wonderful thing. ann soon ne found
crowds nocking from idle curiosity. and
in keeping with that morbid taste for the
sensational that even now characterizcs
people But the Gospel soon attracted
with greater power than curiosity and
many were converted I'm the old state
House.
OLD TRINITY.
Iyell now bent all his energies towards
securing "a church building. and before the
end OF tho year neat and commodious
house was completed and opened at the
corner of Nineteenth and Franklin
streets While we do not find any name
I'm connection with the church, We note
that the one succeeding IL is called New
Trinity" and the presumption Is that
Trinity was the name Of tine first church,
and that the next building I'm point Of
time and known as New Trinity was