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Building Notes

In 1850, the Trinity Church stood on Powell Street between Washington and Jackson Streets. (See The San Francisco City Directory by Charles P. Kimball, September 1, 1850, p. 127.) Prior to the construction of the first church, the congregation in 08/1849 held services in a private residence. The newspaper Daily Pacific Newsindicated: The Protestant Episcopal congregation of the Holy Trinity Church, Rev. Mr. Mines, Rector, worship at the residence of Mr. J.H. Merrill, corner of Vallejo and Stockton streets, every Sunday at 11 A.M. and 4 P.M. Strangers are particularly invited to attend. By order of the Wardens and Vestry.” (See “Religious Notice,” Daily Pacific News, vol. 1, no. 1, 08/25/1849, p. 3.)

Trinity Church's website said of its early history: "Trinity Episcopal Church was incorporated on July 22,1849, (predating the incorporation of San Francisco) and was first organized as The Church of the Holy Trinity. It was later given the designation of Mother Church of the Pacific Coast, the first Episcopal parish on the West Coast. The first rector, The Rev. Flavel S. Mines, was the first Episcopal clergyman to settle in California. Services were first held in a parishioner's home during the four weeks needed to erect our first building, a simple rectangular structure of wood at the southwest corner of Powell and Jackson Streets which was named Holy Trinity Church. The first service was held in October of 1849." (See Trinity St. Peter's Church.org, "About the Church," accessed 10/30/2023.)

Building Notes

Trinity Church #1 formed in 1849, the first Episcopal congregation in the State of CA. Its represented an island of calm set within a tempest of real estate and commercial speculation at the height of the Gold Rush.

PCAD id: 19168