The Sanctuary: A new chapter for one of Atlanta’s oldest landmarks

One of Atlanta’s most historic churches, Trinity United Methodist, located at 265 Washington Street SW in the heart of downtown, is undergoing redevelopment, with its property grounds soon to be under construction. The first of three Trinity Methodist churches was built in 1854, with its final sanctuary completed in 1911 at its current location.

Trinity United Methodist has a storied role in Atlanta’s history. In 1864, during the Battle of Atlanta, it was one of four downtown houses of worship saved by Catholic priest Thomas O’Reilly.

As General Sherman and his army approached, O’Reilly interceded, sparing the church, along with St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Second Baptist, and Central Presbyterian, from destruction. City Hall and the Courthouse were also spared.

During the war, the church was located on nearby Mitchell Street. Another church was later built at the corner of Whitehall and Peters streets, where it stood for 40 years, from 1871 to 1911. The current sanctuary was constructed between 1911 and 1912.

All three Trinity United Methodist churches span nearly 170 years of Atlanta history, while retaining many of the same pews and chancel wood. When General Sherman sat outside on horseback in the heat of an Atlanta summer, those same pews were inside Trinity United Methodist.

More in a moment on the pews and sanctuary wood, but first an update.

In 2026, Trinity Methodist has been christened “The Sanctuary” by a Midwestern developer, a $41.3 million project that will give the historic property an altered purpose across from Atlanta City Hall and in the shadow of the Georgia State Capitol.

The Wisconsin firm Gorman & Company, which specializes in affordable housing, is leading the new Trinity United Methodist project. Residential units and event space will be built in partnership with the church. A 16-story tower will replace the current classrooms, creating 83 mixed-income residential units.

According to Urbanize Atlanta, “Amenities around the complex would include a fitness center, clubhouse, business center, and picnic pavilion, according to Invest Atlanta, which approved $2 million in Eastside Tax Allocation District funding last year to support the adaptive-reuse venture.”

A church volunteer told me the former sanctuary will hold office space and provide services for the unhoused.

The sanctuary closed about 6 months ago with flooring and pews pulled out toward their repurposing.

According to Trinity United Methodist, “the earliest pews were said to be imported from Germany for the 1854 church, and due to growth of the churches over the years, some pews may have been added at each church-to-church transition. Some pews had cut nails that dominated nearly all construction before 1880 with wire nails effectively replacing those for most uses by 1900. Some had long finishing nails for at least joining the double pews together in the middle -- perhaps due to the move to the 1914 church. Three-inch-long brass screws were used to lock the pews to the flooring."

So, what becomes of these ancient pews and precious wood?

The church says, "Paul Bolster, a parishioner, approached a nonprofit collective called the "The Splinter Group" who volunteered to reuse the pews and other woodwork in the church. They took out 100 pews and have turned them into single seats and two person "loveseats."

Crosses were made for parishioners, and Gorman and Company have asked for the seats to be used for the 12 story apartments."

I communicated via email with lead pastor Rev. Dr. Nora Colmenares about the pews, the sanctuary wood and the decision toward a new Trinity United Methodist:

Jeff: Can you give a brief overview as to how the decision was made to begin the renovation?  

Rev. Colmenares: The congregation has become smaller over the years, and the building had a lot of deferred maintenance.  A few years ago, the church began looking for ways in which they could leverage their building without it being a burden on their budget.  With the help of Wesley CDC, they put out an RFP in 2023, entered into an agreement with Gorman and Company in 2024, and are now set to close on the development by end of year. 

Jeff: The sanctuary was constructed in 1911, is there a record of the craftsmen and the location where they were made? What kind of wood are the pews?  

Rev. Colmenares: Most of the pews, the altar, the pulpit came from our second sanctuary which was built in 1871. The oral story that was passed down is that the wood in the sanctuary came from Germany however we don't have any written documentation.  

Jeff: Where are the pews being housed now?  

Rev. Colmenares: About 15-20 pews were cut down to love seats and given to past and present church members.  Gorman reserved about 20-25 of the pews to be used in the common areas throughout the new development. They have been taken apart and stored. There were a number that had a lot of water damage on the ends and were unusable.  Then what was left, the Splinter Group took to sell at local festivals or repurpose into other projects. If they sell anything they will donate some of the profits back to the church. 

Jeff: How will the floor be repurposed and relocated?  

Rev. Colmenares: The wooden portion of the sanctuary floor was removed by the Splinter Group to be used by them for various projects that they do.

Jeff: Has the developer found a new home for the wood? Or is that in progress?  

Rev. Colmenares: Gorman & Company will use some of the wood in the new development project. (Doors, frames, pews, the chancel area, trim). Some of the wood was taken by current Trinity UMC members and the Splinter Group took most everything else. The pulpit and part of the altar railing is in storage and will be used in the new space by the church.  Both of these things were a part of Trinity's second sanctuary that was built back in 1871. 

Jeff: What will the sanctuary look like upon completion? And how will it facilitate your mission in 2026 and beyond?  

Rev Colmenares: We don't have pictures of the inside yet. But we can say that the stain glass windows, wooden ceiling beams, and the organ facade pipes will remain a part of the design. And we will have the pulpit and part of the altar rail that is currently in storage.

The Austin pipe organ is the largest in Atlanta. Atlantan Walter T. Downing was the architect of Trinity Methodist, and his work can be found all around the city. His projects include the Healey Building, the Women’s Club on Peachtree Street, where Margaret Mitchell was killed out front in 1949, First Presbyterian Church next to the High Museum, the Georgia Tech Electrical Engineering Building and Swann Dormitory, just to name a few.