Trinity Episcopal Church

The Trinity Episcopal Church built-in 1857-1859 is significant for its architecture. The Church features Gothic Revival elements of the English Parrish style. Its origin dates back to 1851 when the village of Mount Vernon began to develop and form several new church congregations. Because of the growing population of the area, St. Paul’s Church in Eastchester began hosting services in private homes. Eventually, the Episcopalians decided they wanted their own parish and were granted permission to form a new parish in 1856. Among the founding members of the Church was John Stevens. As head of the Mechanics Mutual Protection #11, an organization of skilled workers and craftsmen, Stevens organized the purchase of four farms along the railroad lines which was subdivided into what became the first commuter community in Westchester County. His home is also an entry in Clio.

The Church sits on .96 acres of land that was donated by the owners of three adjacent lots between Third and Fourth Avenue. For the architecture of the Church, the Parishioners chose Episcopal specialist Henry Dudley to design it. Dudley was a well known English Architect who designed about 162 Churches in New York State. His design plan for the Church suggested a simple Gothic building containing little more than a nave and a raised chancel. Dudley completed the construction of the church in 1859 and the opening service was held on Sunday, December 25th. 

But the Church was not fully finished; there were still some windows that needed to be installed and more furnishings were added as the congregation grew. A major expansion was needed in 1884 in which the nave was extended and a new entrance was added. 

As the 20th century approached, the church added new buildings to accommodate the expanding services it began to provide. Trinity Episcopal Church built its first parish house in 1892 and an even larger second house was added in 1909. Unfortunately, the second parish house burned in 1954 but its stone walls survived and were used in the reconstruction of the building.Today, Trinity Episcopal Church retains much of its original integrity and is still an active religious and social center in Mount Vernon. 

1. Trinity Episcopal Church, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed December 21st, 2020.
2. Williams, Gray. Picturing Our Past: National Register Sites in Westchester County. 2003.
3. Panetta, Roger, Ed., Westchester The American Suburb, New York, 2006.