The Washington herald., 1920-08-07
Trinity Episcopal Church Still Bears Scars
Of Use as Hospital During the Cuil War
Quaint History Recalled in
Days Of Flourishins Con-
dition as Capital Place oi
Worship and Civic Ac-
tivity.

On the backs OF the pews in the
octagonal nave of Trinity ,Episco-
pal Church, Third and C streets
northwest, there may still be seen
the marks of screws and nails by
which were fastened the hospital
cots where. during the civil war,
wounded campaigners from q hun
dred battle fields received care and
treatment from government, nurses.
The church was the second in
Washington to- be taken over by
the Federal authorities following
outbreak of the conflict between
the States, The incident is but one
that forms its. history of more than
a: century. during which it has been
transformed from a struggling par
ish into one of the most proxrcs-
sive spiritual and civic centers in
the District.
The first services were held in
the old courthouse, because of the
few existing structures adequate as
pAaSes oh "OFsnip.
The congregation was . greatly
augmented by the. enviable reputa-
ton soon earned, however, and the
efforts to place the institution on
a permanent basis were stimulated
by encouragement. So in 1929, erec-
irion of a building on Fifth street.
near d, northwest, being complet
ed, the structure was consecrated
and the church received what was
really its hrst start.
Cornerstose Laid fer New Structure.
twenty-five years later the Fifth
street structure began to get too
small for the congregation. and
! after an extensive campaign for
funds the cornerstone of the pres
ent building was laid. This event
attracted considerable comment. for
t took place on Sunday. Three
years later the work on the new
church was finished and services
= 1t"iw2s the most besatfpl place
! of worship in the District and
many famous executives, leg eisla-
| tors and judiciaries for a long time
made 1t their church. During the
middle of the Nineteenth century it
got to be known as the Church of
the Mayors" because, by coinci-
dence, the mayors of Washington
all attended there.
And so it prospered for decades S
until. a few years ago its financial
| status ran amuck in mismanage-
ment, and things began to slump.
The congregation. fell off so per-
!
ing 1t open any longer became ap-
parent and II was closed.
! For a few months following its
| being turned over to Bishop Hard
ing as his pro-cathedral, for five
| years canons from the, cathedral
came to town on Sundays and con-
Quoted the services. But these were
by no means successful and ad
yersity prompted the vestry to
make one of the wisest and even
| tually the most beneficial moves In
the, history of the institution.
Program o6ered fer Betterne.t.
They succeeded in prevailing
upon the Rev. David Ransom Covell
| to abandon his service at the
| Christ Church, Southeast, and come
| to take charge of affairs at Trim
| ity. He did so after securing the
assurance of the vestry that they
would allow him to put into opera
tion "a certain program" which he
felt certain would again put the
church on it's feet.
The congregation that had aver
aged rs or so at the regular Sun
| day morning service was increased
| quickly to 800, while the attend
ance at the evening prayer was
augmented by nearly $50 persons.
The parish hall. adjoining the
fchurch, was turned into a civic
! and community center shortly after
Mr. Covell's arrival in February,
1919 A forum, ito meet the need
questions" was established. $4,000
persons crowding its doors during
the ensuing hot months of summer.
Headquarters of the Prisoners
Aid Association were established in
| the community house and during 6
| the first year OF its existence 1t in
yestisated 51s. cases and inter
viewed 1,145 first timers" A men
| tai hygiene. clinic was started un-
der the direction of DIR. Loren
johnson, assisted by DR.. W. A
White, superintendent of St. Eliza
beth's Insane Asylum.
| Cooperative moving -.picturesNfor
the children Of the yneighborhood
were fnausarated, the adnissian
being seven cents. 1t proved to be
one Of the most popular activities
of the institution. - -f.- 80.
THE vestfy is composed of DIR
George N Acker, senior warden
William r. Bedell, junior warden
Samuel Farmer. secretary; Allen
Cowles and John B. Wilson.
Aged Cumberland