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Our History
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Organized 19 September 1906
100th Anniversary 2006
From 1881 until 1905, Episcopal Church services in Raton were
conducted by Las Vegas and Trinidad priests. In 1905, a missionary
deacon was appointed by Bishop Kendrick for services in
Mendleshoie Hall, and the Ladies Guild was formed.
In February of 1906, Father William Wylie was appointed as Vicar and the Sunday School began with three scholars. There were 23 communicants within the twenty families for a total of 60 souls. The first baptism (Loring Ellsworth Golip, born in 1882) was on March 20th, and his was the first burial when he died on March 23rd. The first marriage was on May 19th uniting Walter E. Nitting to Bessie Follinwider, and the first confirmation of eight candidates was on May 20th. The name Holy Trinity was adopted on September 19th and the mission was formally organized. (Bishop's Journal 1907 p. 25)
Holy Trinity has always been a mission, first under the Diocese of New Mexico and Southwest Texas and later under the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Without records from 1908 to 1925, there have been 37 known appointments to serve at Holy Trinity to the present time. Four members of Holy Trinity went on to become Episcopal priests. Barbara Mackie's appointment for 11 years from 1982 - 1993 is the longest tenure of any Vicar.
The church cornerstone was laid August 14, 1921, by The Right Reverend F. B. Howden, 4th Bishop of New Mexico and Southwest Texas. At that time church services were conducted by The Rev. J. S. Moore, Rector of St. Paul's Church in Las Vegas. The church building was designed by Isaac Rapp of the Rapp & Rapp architectural firm of Trinidad, CO. The completed church was opened and blessed by Bishop Howden on August 17, 1922.
Formerly the church rectory, Wettling Hall, is named for The Reverend L. Eugene Wettling who served as Vicar from May 7, 1959, until his death on March 30, 1963.
Nellie McCormick McPeek Carlini, born in the coal camp of nearby Koehler on February 9, 1921, baptized August 17, 1921, and confirmed December 31, 1933 at Holy Trinity, holds the longest membership of anyone in this congregation.
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Raton, New Mexico