| From the Trinity website:
History of Trinity Cathedral Parish
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is the oldest Episcopal church
building in central Arkansas and the third oldest church
building in the area. It was conceived and planned by the Rt.
Rev. Henry Niles Pierce, who alone raised the money to build the
Cathedral. Designed in a cruciform shape (the shape of a cross)
in English Gothic style, the Cathedral features symbols of its
namesake, the Trinity, such as trefoils, fleurs-de-lis, and
clover leaves.
The Cathedral was built in three stages, as finances permitted.
The first service was held on October 19, 1884, when only the
nave and baptistery were finished and the altar was placed under
the west window on an improvised chancel. At the convocation
meeting in the spring of 1885, Trinity reported 67 members. The
transepts and crossing were completed by February 1889 when the
altar was placed under the north transept window. The chancel
was finished by Easter of 1892, thus completing the structure,
and moving the altar to the east end of the Cathedral.
Memorials and gifts have been presented through the years, the
first being the brass altar cross in memory of the first
acolyte, Halfden Degen, who died in 1886 of typhoid fever. The
window over the altar is a memorial to Bishop Pierce and was
dedicated on Easter 1909. The carved eagle lectern was donated
in 1918 in memory of Edmond Urquart.
The present altar and reredos, carved in Oberammegau, were given
in 1924 memory of Frances Blakeslee and Philander Keep Roots, at
which time the choir room was converted to the chapel - another
memorial to Bishop Pierce. The clerestory windows were installed
in 1937, the south transept window in 1939, the north transept
window in 1959, and the nave windows in the 1960s and the 1970s.
The Parish House was erected in 1951, inspired by a large
bequest from Mrs. Beauregard Morrison. Cathedral House was
completed in 1953. Lyman Annex (named for Bishop Pierce’s
daughter Elizabeth Pierce Lyman) was added in 1966. In 1981,
Chancellors Hall was erected and the Parish House and Cathedral
House were extensively remodeled.
Under the direction of present Dean and Rector the Very Rev.
Henry Lee Hudson, 1998 witnessed nearly $5 million in
renovations of the Cathedral proper, the Parish House and the
offices of the Diocese of Arkansas. Dean’s Hall was erected,
providing a connecting building between Morrison Hall and the
Cathedral proper. The new building, with a handicapped entrance
opening onto 17th Street, houses the clergy sacristy, dressing
areas for acolytes, lay readers and chalice bearers, an
elevator, and storage space. The Cathedral was closed on Easter
Day 1998 and was reopened on Christmas Eve of that same year.
During the "year in exile" as it was called, all services were
held in the Cathedral’s gymnasium, Chancellors Hall. In 1999 as
part of the renovation project, a new 4-manual, 82-rank pipe
organ was installed by the Muller Pipe Organ Co. of Toledo,
Ohio. Designed by then- Organist & Choirmaster James R. Metzler,
the organ is the largest instrument of its kind in the state of
Arkansas.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, with over 1500 registered members,
is both a parish church and the Cathedral church of the Diocese
of Arkansas. The Rt. Rev. Larry R. Benfield is the 13th Bishop
of Arkansas. The Very Rev. Hudson is the Cathedral’s 18th Dean.
The Rev. Dr. Canon Daniel D. McKee is the present Subdean. Dr.
Herb Hahn is the present Senior Warden, and Mr. Doug Brass is
the present Junior Warden.
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