| Building Name: | Holy Trinity Episcopal Church |
| Location: | 50 West Strawbridge Avenue Melbourne, Florida |
| Geo: | 28.0802°N -80.6232°W |
| Religious Affiliation: | Episcopal |
| Website: | Website |
| Architect: | Built by George J. Gingras of Cocoa & C. T. McBride[1] [2] |
| Year Completed: | 1886[3] [4] |
| Materials: | Wood |
The Holy Trinity Episcopal Church was a historic church currently located at 50 West Strawbridge Avenue, Melbourne, Florida, United States. It is the oldest established church of any denomination in the city.[5]
The church was built between July and November 1886 and the Reverend Dr. William Porcher DuBose presided over the first service on December 27, 1886.[1] [3] The church was originally located on the south bank of Crane Creek in Melbourne on land purchased from the Wright Brothers through a gift from Lucy Boardman.[1] [3] Members on the north side of Crane Creek traveled by boat and later by footbridge to attend services.[4] For easier access, the congregation moved the church in 1897 to the north side of the creek.[3] [4] The new site was located on the Corner of Fee Avenue and U.S. 1 in Melbourne on land donated by William and Nora Stanford Wells.[4] Jessie S. Goode provided the belfry and bell in 1923 as a gift to the church.[3] The congregation renovated the church in 1927 and moved it again in 1963 to its current location.[3] [4]
The church congregation initially organized in June 1884 at the home of Richard W. Goode.[3] Other founding members included the Campbell, Ellis, Ely, Grubb and Miller families—many of the prominent people of the area at the time.[3] [4] The congregation officially became a parish in 1949 and purchased land on Strawbridge Avenue for the construction of a new sanctuary, church offices and school classrooms.[6] In 1958, the parish expanded the school, which later became Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy.[6]