Trinity Episcopal Church, Historical Timeline; Rapides, Louisiana
Submitter:Richard Moriarty

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Here is a picture taken in 1860 (circa) of  Trinity Episcopal Church right 
after it was built. This picture hangs today in the church vestibule. The 
outer walls are the original slave made brick with the tall spires on the 
top (which are no longer present). The men are across the bayou near the 
Yankee Oak".
Here is a historical timeline of Trinity Episcopal Church:
* In 1859 the Episcopal mission at Cheneyville became a parish and was organized 
  under the name of "Trinity Church".
* Money was subscribed toward the building of the church and the cornerstone 
  was laid June 14, 1860.
* The church was constructed during the summer and fall months of 1860 at a 
  cost of over $6,000.00.
* Trinity Church is Gothic in style, seventy-five feet long, thirty feet wide, 
  and the chancel is recessed. Seating capacity is for 170 persons.
* The first service in the church was held on January 1, 1861.
* Three months later, on April 7, 1861, the church was consecrated by the Right 
  Reverend Leonidas Polk, first Bishop of Louisiana. Bishop Polk was later known 
  in civil war fame as the "fighting Bishop" and was killed in a civil war battle 
  at Pine Mountain, Georgia in 1864.
* Trinity Church was the site of a battle during the civil war between Union and 
  Confederate troops. Bullet holes (now plugged up) in the front door were made by 
  Union Army soldiers. It is said that the Confederate soldiers were in the tower 
  of the church while the Union army was across the bayou and in the exchange of 
  gunfire, bullets hit the front door of the church.
* The baptismal font, pews and chandeliers are among the original furnishings in 
  the church. Rose colored glass in the side windows is the original glass, which 
  was imported from England. Attached to the bottom of the pews can be seen a modesty 
  board which was so placed in order to hide the ankles of the ladies attending 
  services. The chandeliers in the church were originally kerosene, but have in 
  recent years been converted to electricity.
*The baptismal font, pews and chandeliers are among the original furnishings in 
 the church. Above the vestibule of the church is the gallery where the slaves sat 
 while attending services.
*The baptismal font, pews and chandeliers are among the original furnishings in 
 the church. In 1980 work was begun on restoring the exterior of the church and 
 making it structurally strong. When this was completed, the interior was carefully 
 restored, retaining all the original features. Completed in 1982 at a cost of 
 $102,833.00, the money for the restoration was raised by Trinity's eight communicants, 
 with donations from friends and relatives.
*The baptismal font, pews and chandeliers are among the original furnishings in 
 the church.  Trinity Church and the cemetery surrounding it are on the National 
 Register of Historic Places in the United States.
*The baptismal font, pews and chandeliers are among the original furnishings in 
 the church.  In 1996 work was begun and completed the following year in 
 needlepointing all of the altar rail kneelers. Designed by Ainslie Carey of Destin, 
 Florida, these kneelers and the work which is continuing on needlepointing the 
 Bishop's Chair and the Sanctuary chairs and kneelers have been said to be some 
 of the finest needlepoint designs to be found in the South.