“How did a church demolished in 1936 become the U.S. Department of Labor headquarters?” I ask. That’s the story of Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington D.C. It stood at 3rd and C Streets NW. This corner is now part of the Frances Perkins Building.
Trinity’s story begins in 1827. Episcopalians felt the need for another parish. Christ Church and St. John’s were too far. So, Trinity was founded. It was supposedly the third Episcopal parish in D.C. In 1828, they built a church on 5th Street NW.
The area mixed modest homes with grand townhouses. Lawyer Francis Scott Key attended Trinity. He also served as senior warden. Other notable attendees included John Quincy Adams and Daniel Webster. Trinity became known as the “church of the mayors”. Many local officials attended services here.
By 1847, Trinity needed a bigger building. Reverend Clement Moore Butler pushed for a new church. William Wilson Corcoran helped fund it. He was a businessman and philanthropist. Corcoran likely chose the architect. It was James Renwick Jr.
Renwick had designed Grace Church in New York City. He also won a competition for the Smithsonian Institution Building. His rejected Smithsonian design became Trinity’s design. The Gothic Revival building featured two towers. It was completed in 1851.
During the Civil War, Trinity served as a military hospital. Union soldiers recovered here. Wooden planks covered the pews. President Abraham Lincoln visited wounded soldiers.
After the war, Washingtonians moved to other areas. Trinity’s attendance declined. Despite renovations, the church fell into debt. The diocese took over after World War I. Trinity became a social service center.
In 1936, the property was sold. The church was stripped and demolished. It became a parking lot. The Frances Perkins Building now stands there. Some members were upset about the demolition. One last service was held on June 16, 1936. Before demolition, items were given to other parishes. A family bought the cornerstone. They used it for their log cabin. Trinity Episcopal Church was gone but not forgotten. Its story echoes in the halls of the Labor Department today.