Founded in 1919 as the Church of the Advent, Trinity Church has a long and interesting history at the corner of 33rd and Meridian.

Beginnings

The Church of the Advent, the first name given to the Episcopal
congregation at North Meridian and 33rd Sts. in Indianapolis.

From the Indianapolis News, April 4, 1919:

A new Episcopal church which will be known as the Church of the Advent, will hold its first service next Sunday morning at the church property, recently acquired by the Indianapolis diocese at Meridian and Thirty-third streets. The rector of the new parish is the Rev. C.E. Bishop who has arrived from Sturgis, Michigan to assume his duties.

In many ways the organization of the new church is unusual, because the acquiring of the property and the building up of what promises to be a large congregation has been accomplished in a such a relatively short time. Many prominent families living on the north side and representing many religious denominations have shown a deep interest in the new church and have promised the parish their active support.

The Rt. Rev. Joseph M. Francis, bishop of the Indianapolis diocese, long has desired to establish a parish on the north side and when he returned recently from France where he served as chaplain of base hospital No. 82, he discussed his plan with Aquilla Q. Jones, who has been prominent in the affairs of the diocese in Indianapolis for many years. Mr. Jones entered into negotiations for the purchase of the property of the Baptist church and undertook the task of organizing the parish.

A large number of business men made contributions and about $4,000 was spent in remodeling the structure and in installing a pipe organ which was taken from the St. David's church at Talbott Avenue and Twenty-first street. Since the interior of the building has been remodeled it has been made into one of the most attractive structures of its kind in the city. The church has a seating capacity of 250 persons. In addition to a large Sunday school room, Sunday school classes have been held in the church for the last two weeks with an attendance of almost forty persons. Mr. Jones expects that the Sunday school attendance soon will reach 200. Edward Birge will be the choirmaster and organist. The parish will have a quartet choir supported by twelve voices.

Interior of the Church of the Advent

It is the plan of the parish to support the church by voluntary contributions and no pew rents are to be charged. It is believed that the parish will have ample financial support and that the church will prosper.

The parish as yet has not been organized by the election of the vestry, but a meeting for this purpose will be held soon. Sunday school will be conducted at 9:00 a.m. and the church services will be held at 1 l a.m. and 8 p.m.

The lot has a frontage of 300 feet on Meridian Street and 100 feet on Thirty-third street, providing ample space for the construction of a larger building and a parish house should such expansion be regarded advisable at any time.