Trinity United Methodist Church
Independence Trail Region
Established in 1848 as a slave congregation, the Trinity United Methodist Church continues its service today as one of the oldest African American churches in Houston. Members of the congregation helped found a variety of local educational institutions, including the Freedmen's Aid Society, Wiley College, and Houston Colored Junior College (later incorporated into Texas Southern University), and a number of area schools are named for members of the Trinity congregation. The current sanctuary, built in 1951, contains a set of large stained-glass windows depicting both religious and civil rights themes. Visitors can see the windows and read about the history on the church's website.