It has been said that when America moved west the Episcopalians came along when they could get a Pullman reservation. This was almost literally true of Trinity Church in its early years. Although its roots go back to the organization of a new mission in Barboursville, W.Va., in 1869, Trinity's real growth coincided with the development of the city of Huntington in the 1870s as the western terminus of the expanding Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Co.

Many of Trinity's early leaders found themselves in Huntington because of the railroad. It was in 1872 that the mission moved to Huntington from Barboursville and adopted its present name, holding services on the second floor of a building on the site now occupied by the Radisson Hotel.

The first clergy to take charge of Trinity was the Rev. E. Valentine Jones who was sent for that purpose by the Bishop of Virginia because Huntington was a part of his diocese until the establishment of the separate Diocese of West Virginia. The first priest assigned to Trinity after West Virginia became a separate diocese was the Rev. John W. Lea who was placed in charge by Bishop George W. Peterkin in 1878. During Mr. Lea's tenure the present church building was constructed. After Mr. Lea, Trinity had a number of rectors and went through a series of challenges and achievements as it eventually became established as one of the leading parishes in the Diocese. Since 1916 Trinity has had only six rectors. Two of them went on to become bishops, and three of the others were seriously considered as nominees. 

 

 

 

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