1917 Trinity United Methodist Church
Idaho Falls, Bonneville County
- Grants: 2015, 2018, 2019 (column repair), 2021 (stained-glass window restoration)
Location: 237 N. Water Ave. Idaho Falls, ID 83402
Methodism in southeastern Idaho dates back to 1834 with the Rev. Jason Lee. A community of Methodists grew quickly in Idaho Falls, and a white wooden church was built in 1895. Within a few decades the membership had grown large enough to build a new stone building in the Gothic and Tudor style. The building was dedicated in 1917 and is a prominent structure in downtown Idaho Falls. Speaking of prominence, several community leaders have sprung forth from Trinity United’s congregation, including former Idaho Governor Barzilla Clark (1937-1939) and former Idaho Falls Mayor Linda Milam (1993 – 2006). The Trinity community is also notable for its historic dedication to inclusivity, as witnessed by the substantial number of Japanese Americans welcomed into their congregation post-World War II.
The impressive building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 for typifying the Tudor/Gothic style with its lack of steeples, flattened arches, and intricate stained-glass windows.
