The Washington herald., 1913-08-11
TRINITY CHURCH
TO BE REBUILT
Ancient Structure Soon to Be
Raced for Erection Of
New Church.
OVER 100 YEARS OLD
Exact Date Of Construction l. I'm.
known, but About Tine Of
Of 1872 War.
OVER l0OYEARS OLD

Holy Trinity Church. organized In 17ss.
soon will be RACED in order to make room
for a more modern edifce, it Is reported
No date has been set for the building OF
new church: in fact. the Jesuit fathers
who have charge of the parish say that
probably 1t will be in use fol several
years, but its term Of service las about
expired.
About is years ago. before Washing
ton was more than a LIateria' izing
dream. members OF the Society Of Jesus
pushed their way. despite obstacles of
Indians and beasts" as an Old account
has said. and planted the first seed Of
Catholicity in this part OF the New
World"
Their choice of a location for Holy
Trinity Church. then without a name.
was peculiarly fortunate. Trinity is one
OF the few older churches OF tie city that
has retained the appearance Of age and
accompanying dignity. Its grounds oc-
by n. o. Thirty-sixth, and Thirty-afth
Streets. in Georgetown. 1t is inclosed by
fence OF high iron pickets. and follows
the colonial style OF architecture
FOR many years after the founding of
Trinity Church, the fathers struggled
along without a building. Then, in I1Ss,
the first pastor, Father Francis ]. NeaIe,
S. j.. brother OF the second Archbishop
Of Baltimore. started the erection of Holy
Trinity Church. 1t is said in an account
Of the church that here was placed the
cradle Of the Catholic religion in the
new District Of Columbia"
Price Five ShIIIinrs.
1t was very difficult to obtain money
and material for building the church. and
though il was commenced in I7ss. IL was
in process Of completion until about 1892
The original building. many times i'm
proved or added to. now is known as
Trinity School. and is situated southeast
OF the present building in Trinity grounds
II Is said that during the early days of
the parish. services were held in a build
ing on the present site. and that a large
room was set aside to contain an impro-
vised altar where the sacrifice of mass
was said. and people from all the sur
rounding country came to attend"
The church property was obtained in
les. from John Threlkeld. who at that
time owned most OF Georgetown. The
deed transferring the property to the Rev
John Carroll still is on file at Rockville,
Md, as Georgetown was a part Of Mary
land in those days.
Five shillings was named as the con-
sideration for the property, showing that
the greater part Of the property was a
gift to the Catholic Church from Mr..
Threlkeld.
Father Neale was so pressed for
money to maintain his parish that. 1t
was recorded, he gave a lien on the
rents of pews to Mr.. Alexander Doyle,
who built the church" Though pow
erty stricken most of the time, and es-
pecially poor during the war of 1872,
the Jesuits managed to progress.
Has Housed Nota6les.
Cardinals, bishops. archbishops and
apostolic delegates have attended the
church. and it is said in the history
that every head of the see at Baltimore
has been at least once present in the
church.
During the civil war years Of 1s61-s4
the church was used as a Federal hos
pitaL Father Aschwanden and Father
Augustus Rocoffort, 1t is recorded. per
formed heroic work among the dying,
MANNED, and sick soldiers"
The date OF the erection Of the pres
ent church is indefinite; but IL is known
that the building is very old. Prob
ably 1t was built some time shortly fol-
lowing the war Of 1872.
In 1857, a history of the church says,
Father Kelly. then pastor. added a new
page to the history" This Is taken-to
mean that the church at that time
was remodeled. In 1886, Father W. ].
Scanlon introduced electric lights and
steam heat, and wiped out the debt that
had been an inheritance of pastors.
Trinity at present draws its attend
ants from all parts of the District. and
from Maryland and Virginia 1t Is at
tended by many descendants Of old resi-
dents Of Georgetown. who have removed
their homes.
The Rev. Edward M. Corbett at present
is pastor Of the. church. He Is assisted
by the Rev. Edward ]. Magrath and the