Trinity Episcopal Church in Marshall celebrates 175 years, marking season of renewal after parish split

Preparing to process in to Sunday worship, the Rev. Dana Jean and acolytes.

Trinity Episcopal Church will celebrate its 175th anniversary on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with a special service of Holy Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. led by the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. The service will include confirmations, installation of new Daughters of the King, and the presentation of commemorative gifts to the church. A festive procession led by a New Orleans style second line band, catered lunch, and community celebration will follow. All are welcome.

Founded on January 4, 1851, as a mission to serve Texas & Pacific railroad workers, Trinity Episcopal Church has remained a visible and enduring witness to the gospel in East Texas. Over the decades, the parish has shaped the civic and spiritual landscape of Marshall through worship, education, community partnerships, and service.

The anniversary comes two and a half years after a significant congregational split, when a portion of the parish departed to form an ACNA congregation. What might have been a season of diminishment has instead become a time of clarity, renewed purpose, and unexpected joy.

“Trinity’s 175 years tell a story of faithfulness—of people who showed up, prayed, served, and loved this community in Christ’s name,” said the Rev. Dana M. Jean, Priest-in-Charge. “We honor that legacy best by continuing it, and we have found that a smaller congregation can be a more focused and hopeful one. What has emerged is deeper community, greater lay leadership, and a shared desire to serve Marshall with open hands and open hearts.”

Since the split, Trinity has strengthened its relationship with Trinity Episcopal School, expanded its outreach ministries, welcomed new members, and cultivated a renewed sense of identity centered on prayer, sacrament, and service. Lay leaders who guided the parish through the transition describe this season as a “second planting”—a moment to reclaim the congregation’s mission and rebuild with intentionality.

The 175th anniversary service will launch a yearlong celebration, including historical programs, themed gatherings, acts of service, and community events that highlight both Trinity’s heritage and its hopes for the future. More details will be announced in early 2026.

“We are not simply looking back at 175 years,” Jean added. “We are looking forward with gratitude and courage. God has been faithful to us in every generation—and God is doing something new among us now.”

For more information, please contact the Rev. Dana M. Jean at 903-938-4246 or revdanaj@gmail.com