Serving as a host church for the annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi this weekend, Trinity Episcopal Church has a long history of service to community, state and country. A look back at some highlights of the generations of congregations provides examples, using &uot;One Hundred Years with Old Trinity Church&uot; by Charles Stietenroth and a commemorative publication by the church to celebrate 175 years in 1997.

&uot;Trinity church was the second Protestant Episcopal church organized in the state of Mississippi, the first being that of Christ Church, Church Hill, in Jefferson County, which was established two years previously by the Rev. Adam Cloud. This clergyman first settled on St. Catherine Creek in Adams County as early as 1792, but was forced to leave by the Spanish government, and he did not return until 1816.&uot;

&uot;It may be interesting to know how ‘Old Trinity’ had its inception. It was during the year 1821, when a party of gentlemen, the guests of Dr. Stephen Duncan, at his hospitable home, ‘Auburn’ (now the property of the City of Natchez, and known a Duncan Memorial Park) were discussing an approaching marriage. Those present were so impressed with the sacred rite of matrimony, that one of the gentlemen remarked, ‘It is a pity there is no Episcopal minister available to perform the ceremony.’ The question was then asked, ‘Why can’t we have an Episcopal minister? Why can’t we have an Episcopal Church?’&uot;

&uot;Šon March 9, 1822, the Rev. James Pilmore arrived in Natchez with a view of establishing an Episcopal church. On the next day (Sunday), through the kind permission of the Rev. Mr. Weir, the Rev. Mr. Pilmore preached his first sermon in the Presbyterian church. On the following Sunday he officiated in the large upper room of the Court House. Those present were so impressed with the beautiful service, that a subscription was immediately opened for building a church and supporting a regular Episcopal minister.&uot;

From a meeting held on April 8, 1822, &uot;Šthe Rev. James Pilmore was formally invited to become the regular pastor of the church, at a salary of $1000.00 per annum.&uot;

The Rev. Pilmore replied: &uot;I feel a sincere pleasure in expressing a ready compliance with the call. The appropriation made for the support of a minister, I consider, under the present circumstances, as truly liberal and perfectly adequate to meet all my wishes.&uot;

&uot;The Rev. Mr. Pilmore was a native of Scotland, having been educated in Edinburgh, and was a graduate of Oxford. He continued as rector of Trinity Church until 1825, when he resigned to accept a call to Christ Church, Church Hill, Miss.&uot;

&uot;In the minutes of May 1823, we find a resolution of thanks of the Trustees to the Building Committee of the church, ‘for the zeal, taste and diligence which they displayed in the erection (of the church).&uot;

&uot;The old church, as it appears in an oil painting of the City of Natchez, by

the naturalist John James Audubon, was an oblong building with an immense dome on the top, which, being covered with tin, glittered in the sunlight, and furnished a land-mark at a great distance, and gave the building the sobriquet of the ‘Round Top Church.’&uot;

&uot;Trinity Church had the honor of entertaining the first Diocesan Convention, which convened in May 1826.&uot;

&uot;It was in October 1838 that the question of alteration of the church building again came up. This culminated in the employment of Messrs. Breedon and Reynolds as the architects of this reconstruction. The structure was metamorphosed, internally and externally, the whole work costing $19,664.01. ŠWhile these alterations were being made services were held in the City Hall. The repairs were not completed so as to be ready for occupation until November 4, 1839. By the enlargement and alterations the seating capacity of the church was increased to four hundred and forty.&uot;

In 1851, the Right Rev. William Mercer Green, was elected Bishop of Mississippi, and at the same time became rector of Trinity. &uot;His stay as rector was very short because his duties as Bishop compelled him to move to Jackson, the See City.&uot; Bishop Green served the Diocese for 37 years.

&uot;The Rev. Charles B. Dana entered upon his duties as rector of Trinity Church in April 1866. On account of the late Civil War he found the condition of the parish greatly depressed. Many families had removed to the country. Others were residing in Europe, while those who remained could not do much to sustain the church. The country prospered, and the depression in the church was soon overcome.

&uot;Dr. Dana was a native of New Hampshire and spent thirty-five years of faithful ministry in the Church. For many ears he was rector of Christ Church in Alexandria, Va., and it was during that period he was offered the Bishopric of New Hampshire. It was also during his stay in Alexandria that he had the distinguished honor of presenting General Robert E. Lee to his bishop for Confirmation.&uot;

&uot;In his address to the Diocesan Council of 1873, Bishop Green paid the following tribute to this grand man, ‘In the death of Rev. Charles. B. Dana, not this Diocese only, but the whole Southern Church acknowledge the loss of a long-tried and well approved servant of Christ.&uot;

The Rev. Alexander Marks succeeded Dr. Dana, called on March 15, 1873.

&uot;His ambition was for improvement all along the line. The transformation of the interior of the church was the result of his untiring energy and perseverance. To him we are indebted for the beautiful recess chancel, with all its rich adornments, which stands today a living monument to his memory.

&uot;It was through the instrumentality of Mr. Marks that Mr. Stephen Duncan contributed the $12,000 for the Parish House, but before actual construction was begun Mr. Marks passed away.&uot;

The Rev. Joseph Kuehnle came to Trinity in the spring of 1914 from Como, Miss.

&uot;Just about this time the great world war came, which disturbed the whole country and was the main topic from many of the pulpits. These discussions had the tendency to make our people all the more patriotic &045; and Trinity was no exception. So on Easter Sunday, April 8, 1917, a beautiful silken U.S. flag was dedicated and followed the Cross in all church processions in those troublous times.

&uot;This flag was originally presented to the Quitman Rifles by Mrs. Rosalie Quitman Duncan, a daughter of Gen. John A. Quitman, and on the disbandment of the company the flag was returned to the family. The flag was then presented as a gift, and a most fitting one, to the Vestry of the church, by the Misses Eva C., Alice Q. and Rose D. Lovell as a memorial of their aunt, Mrs. R.Q. Duncan, who was a life-long member, a loyal church woman and a patriotic American.&uot;

The Rev. Louis O’Vander Thomas was rector of Trinity from 1946 to 1975. The most significant accomplishment during the tenure of Mr. Thomas was the establishment of the Trinity Episcopal Day School. A nursery school for 4-year-olds was begun in 1950 in the Parish House. Later it was held in the old rectory on South Commerce Street. In 1962, the Vestry officially voted to expand its educational program. In September 1963, the Parish purchased Magnolia Hall from Mrs. George Armstrong. An architect was engaged and plans were drawn up. Grades were added each year.

In 1969, the congregation voted to expand the school, and the high school building was erected on the present property, which was donated by the Frederick Schurchardt family. In 1971, Trinity Episcopal Day School’s first commencement exercise was held. The previous year, an elementary school building was erected on the school grounds on Highway 61 South.&uot;

&uot;The Rev. Martin Luther Agnew Jr. assumed his first rectorship at Trinity Church in 1975. Christian education continued to thrive under the leadership of Mr. Agnew. Mark Englehart, an organist and choirmaster of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Boston, headed the music program. In 1976, the sesquicentennial of the Diocese of Mississippi in the bicentennial year of the nation was celebrated in Natchez at the 149th annual council.&uot;

The Rev. Limuel G. Parks Jr. became rector in 1982. &uot;Under the direction of Mr. Parks, an expansion and renovation of Kuehnle hall was undertaken. Natchez architect David Peabody drew plans for an extension to the rear of the existing building to allow for a multipurpose room and improved sacristy on the ground floor. ŠThis work was completed by Concordia Construction Co. in November of 1988.&uot;

The Rev. Zabron A. &uot;Chip&uot; Davis was installed as rector of Trinity Church on May 18, 1997.