Bay City in Bay County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Trinity Church/Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel S., July 16, 2010

1. Trinity Church Marker

Inscription. Trinity Church Trinity Church grew from a small group of settlers served by Episcopal missionaries beginning around 1842. Church records credit William and Ann Fitzhugh with founding the church. On March 4, 1854, fourteen people, led by the Reverend Voltaire Spaulding, formally organized the parish in what was then Lower Saginaw (renamed Bay City in 1857). Members worshipped in "the brown school" and "the ball (bowling) alley" until their first church was built in 1860. By 1883 Trinity's membership had reached 175 people. Spurred by a monetary bequest from Elizabeth Birney, and a donation of land from her daughter Florence Jennison, the congregation planned a new church. The present church opened on April 14, 1887. In 1942 the parish bought the Frank and Lottie Shearer House for use as a rectory.

Trinity Episcopal Church Episcopalians celebrated completion of this building in 1887. Designed by Bay City architect Philip C. Floeter, the sandstone church features bold Victorian Gothic elements, such as pointed arch windows and heavy buttresses. Many of the brilliant stained glass windows were dedicated in memory of parishoners.

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Lumberman Thomas Cranage and his wife, Julia, donated the three-panel window in the main facade in honor of their daughter Sarah, who died of scarlet fever in 1875. An 1884 chapel was incorporated into the parish hall addition in 1924. That year the parish installed an ornately carved reredos (or altar screen), crafted by Bavarian-born artisan Alois Lang of Grand Rapids.

Erected 2005 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L858.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1854.

Location. 43° 35.856′ N, 83° 52.819′ W. Marker is in Bay City, Michigan, in Bay County. It is at the intersection of Center Avenue (State Highway 25) and North Grant Street, on the right when traveling west on Center Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 815 North Grant Street, Bay City MI 48708, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan

and in one of the

Trinity Episcopal Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel S., July 16, 2010

2. Trinity Episcopal Church Marker

Lake Huron Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Charles B. & Georgiana (McGraw) Curtiss House (within shouting distance of this marker); First Presbyterian Church (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bay City Branch Library (about 700 feet away); George H. & Elva Shearer House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Center Avenue (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Joseph Catholic Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Art Around The City (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bay County Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bay City.

Trinity Episcopal Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel S., July 16, 2010

3. Trinity Episcopal Church

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2010, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,423 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 2, 2010, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.