“They say these stones whisper tales” I began my tour. “Right here before us stands Northeast Holy Trinity Church a place steeped in history.”
This isn’t just any church. Northeast Holy Trinity Church holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in Washington DC. Established in 1787 it initially went by a different name. It was called Georgetown Chapel. This was due to laws against building Catholic churches at the time. Archbishop John Carroll a cousin of Charles Carroll a signer of the Declaration of Independence spearheaded its creation. Four lay trustees Adam King George King George Fenwick and James Simpson helped to found it.
The original structure completed in 1794 served the growing Catholic population of Georgetown and students at Georgetown College. Father Francis Neale SJ was its first pastor. The congregation expanded rapidly. By 1851 a much larger building became necessary. The new church was built. The original building which faced south and boasted a bell tower was retained. It was renamed the Chapel of St Ignatius.
A fascinating chapter in the church’s history unfolded during the American Civil War. The federal government transformed the church into a hospital. More than 200 injured soldiers received treatment there after the Second Battle of Bull Run in 1862. The government returned the building in 1863. They reimbursed the congregation $350 for its use.
Holy Trinity Church also played a significant role in the education of Georgetown’s youth. A boys’ school Holy Trinity School opened in 1818. It was located in a house on N Street. A schoolhouse was built at N and 35th Streets NW. The original church building was even converted into a school in 1871. The school closed and reopened. Two new school buildings the Lower School and the Upper School were constructed in 1918. World War I however caused a delay in using the Lower School. The federal government commandeered it.
Throughout its long history Holy Trinity Church has welcomed many prominent figures. President John F Kennedy and his family attended services there regularly. A plaque commemorates Kennedy’s visits. Joe Biden attended services while Vice President and again as President. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also worshipped at the church when in Washington.
The church’s history is intimately tied to the land it occupies. An early cemetery existed on the site of the 1851 church and the Lower School. Many of the graves were moved in 1817. Hundreds still remained as late as 1917. During construction in 1998 human remains were unearthed. This discovery revealed the presence of 44 individuals buried there. These individuals were reinterred elsewhere. The church’s grounds hold layers of history. Northeast Holy Trinity Church is more than just a building. It’s a living testament to faith community and the enduring spirit of Georgetown.