Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland Ohio
Trinity Cathedral, built 1901-1907, was the last of the great downtown churches in Cleveland that have survived to this day. Its architect, Charles F. Schweinfurth, 1856-1919, is regarded as one of the city's most important practitioners over the years. One of many of his significant churches, institutional and residential projects, Trinity Cathedral is considered one of the architect's finest works.
Trinity Cathedral occupies a major location in downtown Cleveland at the southeast corner of Euclid Avenue and East 22nd St. in the developing academic area surrounding Cleveland State University.
Of Cruciform plan, the building fronts on Euclid Avenue and extends to a parish house at the rear which in turn borders a small park located on the property.
The building is designed in a personalized interpretation of the English Gothic of the Perpendicular Period. In numerous ways; via buttresses, strong usage of finials, ribbed wall planes, and window mullions; the architect, Charles Schweinfurth, emphasized the vertical.
At the crossing, a large tower, forty feet square, extends upward to a height of one hundred thirty-seven feet overall and is crested by a vigorous balustrade of vertical motifs. A three-portal entrance system is placed above steps close by Euclid Avenue. This leads to a large narthex which then opens into the sanctuary, one of Cleveland's most richly designed interior spaces.
The exterior is of buff, smooth-sawn Indiana limestone throughout while the interior combines the limestone with russet-colored brick infill of panels between the massive columns and decorative bands of gothic ornament.
A baptistry is located at the west transept. In the choir area are elaborate canopied hoods over the stalls for the clergy. Behind the altar the stone reredos is extensively carved into tiers of religious figures over which a particularly fine window closes the south end of the choir.
The ceilings are constructed in English Oak and are of a modified panel vault form with ribbed sections, purlins, and ridge members using decorative pendants at the major intersections.