Trinity Cathedral Celebrates its Centennial
You may ask, “so what?”

But have you been in any of the beautiful old churches in Cleveland? It’s not as good as going into Notre Dame in Paris or St. Peter’s Church in Rome, but almost. When you enter one of the old churches in the inner city of Cleveland, you experience our history of immigrants and industrialist, of poverty and wealth, of piety and show. Our churches are the historic heart of Cleveland because our culture and the lives of our forefathers were rooted in their religious beliefs. The English Perpendicular Gothic building of Trinity Cathedral was designed by Charles F. Schweinfurth and completed in 1907.

In today’s world, when many of us do not attend church regularly, it’s hard to imagine how influential the churches were in the communities of the past. Many people at the turn of 20th century, especially women, found the church to be their only connection with the outside world. It was a place to socialize with others, work on community projects, and experience art and beauty, as well as a place of worship. Trinity Cathedral was built when the barons of Cleveland lived in mansions on Millionnaire’s Row—this was the church of Millionaires. Trinity’s 100th birthday was celebrated in grand old-fashioned style at the Centennial Gala and Auction that took place on Saturday, September 15. The event celebrated the past, present and future of one of the Cleveland historic landmarks.

Today it’s a church for everyone. It considers itself “an inclusive community of faith.” Trinity Episcopal Cathedral outreaches to everyone no matter their socioeconomic status, race or sexual orientation and the congregation lives within the city or in the far reaches of outlying counties. Weekly public walks on the canvas Labyrinth in the nave of the Cathedral are open to persons of any faith or those seeking faith. The Labyrinth is a meditative prayer tool. A Eucharist is held at 8:00 (early), 9:00 (contemporary), and 11:15 (choral) on Sunday mornings. A healing eucharist takes place at 12:10 on Thursdays.

The first time I visited Trinity Cathedral, located at 2230 Euclid Avenue, was during the Christmastide some twenty years ago when my husband and I attended the Boar’s Head Ceremony in conjunction with the 14th century Medieval Feasts. The church was all decked out for Christmas and a parade of period-clad people made music and bore the boar’s head up the center aisle of the church. The annual benefit event attracts over 1,000 guests each season and helps defray expenses of the Brownbag Concert Series. This year’s feasts will be held on December 7, 8, 14, and 15. The evening begins with wine and mulled cider followed by a procession into the cathedral nave for a banquet to be eaten with fingers and accompanied by wine, ale and fruit juice and entertainment.

Today, I love going to Trinity Cathedral for the Brownbag Concert Series on Wednesdays at noon. The concerts take place in the grand 15th century sanctuary, a big gothic hall with ornate stone pillars and mosaic wood floors with stained glass windows. It feels like Notre Dame in Paris without the crypts along the walls. Dutch mechanical organs create the music on Sundays and special holidays—a 1976 Choir Organ is at one end, and a 1977 Great Organ is at the west end of the nave. I was mesmerized years ago when I sat and listened to a Russian pianist play Chopin on the 1912 Steinway grand piano standing below natural light, and the music was miraculous in its quality.

The Music & Performing Arts at Trinity Cathedral is an affiliated organization that reaches out to the community through music and performing arts. Many of the concerts feature the Chamber Players and the Trinity Chamber Orchestra, but visiting artists add an outstanding flavor to the concerts; the series has in the past also included some of the music of the Tri-C Jazz Festival. The concerts begin with an introduction to the composer, the performer, and the music, and programs give additional information. A freewill offering is taken, and noontime meals are served by the women of the church at a nominal charge.

The Gallery at Trinity Commons uses the visual arts to inspire, another way of reaching out to the community. During the Centennial celebration, the Gallery hosted a juried exhibition of two-dimensional works of art featuring the Cathedral. The exhibition will be shown in the well lit gallery space enhanced by high beautifully beamed ceilings and chandeliers until January 6, 2008. Trinity Commons, part of an environmentally-friendly renovation, was recently added to the property. It includes a round Piazza with a patio entrance off Euclid and a parking lot on Prospect Avenue, in the back. The website for the church has this quote: “We have constructed and are continuing to create a piazza to express the unity, integrity, and community of God, the city, the church, and the rest of creation.”

Unlike many of our inner-city churches, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is alive and spectacular. Its vibrant energy catches us on the move and slows us down to experience our spiritual natures and reconnect on every level.

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, located at the corner of E. 22nd and Euclid, celebrates the centennial of its building and a century of ministry on Euclid Sun 9/30 starting at 10AM. Included is a Festival Eucharist; dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev. Tracey Lind, will preach. The sealing and burying of a 50-year time capsule and a reception is also part of the festivities. The Cathedral’s English Perpendicular Gothic building, designed by Charles F. Schweinfurth, was consecrated on September 24, 1907 and has played host to a wide variety of artists, musicians and Cle creatives over the years. Come and celebrate! http://www.trinitycleveland.org

From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia J. Taller ctallerwritesATwowway.com
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