Our History

On November 9, 1816, a group of Episcopalians met in the home of Phineas Shepard on the West side of what now is greater Cleveland, to organize what was to become Trinity Parish. When in 1825 Trinity parish moved to the east bank of the Cuyahoga River, worship services were held in the upper story of the log house on Public Square, which also served as the public courthouse and jail.

In 1829, the congregation's first church building was consecrated by Bishop Philander Chase. It was the first church building within the Cleveland village limits. In 1855 the parish moved into a new, larger stone building of gothic design, which served the congregation's needs until 1902. At the end of the nineteenth century, Trinity was the strongest parish in the diocese numerically and financially and was also rich in traditions of strong pastoral leadership and in service to the community and the larger church.

In 1890, Trinity Church was offered to Bishop William A. Leonard as a cathedral to be maintained by the parish. At the same time, a new building site was sought in a more central but less commercial section of the city. Plans were begun for a building at Euclid Avenue and East 22nd Street, with Charles F. Schweinfurth of Cleveland as the architect. His plan eventually evolved into the present English perpendicular Gothic structure, begun in 1901 and consecrated September 24, 1907.

Today the Cathedral sits in the downtown quadrangle neighborhood. The congregation is committed to the vision of the cathedral as a center of worship, art, fine music, social service and justice ministries and public gatherings for the diocese an the entire urban area, as well as for our own congregation.

Over the years, Trinity Cathedral has been host to many diocesan, ecumenical, and community events that have included consecrations of bishops, diocesan conventions, and festivals, such as the annual Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival. In addition, Trinity has held public lectures and workshops with religious and social justice leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sister Helen Prejean, Michael Harrington, Archbishop Ndungane, and Congressman Louis Stokes.

Near the century's end, Trinity's leaders realized that the original cathedral could no longer accommodate its growing congregation's needs. In 2000, renovation and expansion work began. The result was Trinity Commons, opened in 2002.

Trinity Commons is an environmentally-friendly building, one of Cleveland's first, housing Trinity Cathedral and the headquarters of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. The Commons strives to be a piazza: a place where the church stands in the crossroads of life as a meeting place for all. Trinity Commons is a home for mission and ministry in downtown Cleveland, including meeting rooms for organizations whose mission is consistent with Trinity Cathedral, an art gallery, Cathedral and Diocesan offices, and the Shops at Trinity Commons: Cafe Ah-Roma, Sacred Path Books & Art, and Ten Thousand Villages Cleveland. We welcome community events and programs that further peace and justice, education, and spiritual growth; for more information on using space at Trinity Commons, please contact the Cathedral Office, 216-774-0415.