April 26, 2026
It is time for another of Trinity’s Generation-to-Generation Campaign updates. As you may recall, the church received a $ 516,000 VA250 grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) in 2025 to make property improvements that would increase visitation to our historic site. Due to the amazing generosity of the entire congregation, we were able to not only meet the required grant match, but we raised nearly $840,000! Thank you, Thank you!The projects that we completed by the autumn of 2025 included restoring all the brick walls and metal fences surrounding the entire site, adding an accessible bathroom to the church, repainting the sections of metal roofs, and repairing and repainting the wood trim of the church and its tower. New drainage lines were installed along the front of the property, several intrusive or damaged trees were trimmed or removed as were damaged boxwood-both projects which are continue this spring as well as the installation of several new plantings.
Additional projects since last fall include repairing and repainting all the trim on the rectory and parish house, repainting churchyard light pole bases, and installing new railings on several Johnson Street staircases where none existed before.
Also, design drawings were completed for the new accessible ramp to the front of the church from Church Street and receiving the required approvals from VDHR, the Staunton Historic Preservation Commission, and Staunton building officials.
The design of new identification and directional signage is complete and going through final reviews from city officials and pricing from three fabricators.
Continuing projects include camera imaging and cleaning out the drains from the buildings to help prevent damage from moisture retention. Also, repainting all the exterior railings within the site is moving forward, including the parish house fire escape.
Besides these VA250 grant-funded projects, the church’s new Maintenance Manager, Jeff Selkirk, has completed a wide variety of delayed and cyclical maintenance repairs while beginning a new system to continue to monitor these essential projects.
Upcoming projects will include the installation of the new accessible ramp, fabrication and installation of the new signage system, gutter repairs and additional downfalls installed where needed. Also, the three historic fences within the churchyard will be restored and repainted.
Masonry repairs will include rebuilding the damaged brick pier and a new installation of a brick sign base as well as alterations to the brick wall for the new ADA ramp site. Additional masonry projects to address moisture effects to the buildings will begin after the drain and gutter issues are completed. Grave marker repairs are also part of these spring and summer projects.
Again, the Trinity Episcopal Church Vestry and Property Committee would like to express our sincere appreciation to all those of our congregation who were able to step up and financially contribute to these important projects relating to the stewardship of our sacred historic buildings and site.
