Although the skyline of the city has changed with the competition to build the tallest building in Grand Rapids, one item remains the same – the many steeples of the churches that are the foundation of our ancestors who settled along the banks of the Grand River.
Each of these represents our past and the immigrants that settled in our area to give Grand Rapids the nickname “Furniture City”.
In this series you will follow the Steeple Chase throughout this great city and view the awe inspiring architecture of our forefathers. The distinct architectural styles represent the great churches of Europe from which these immigrants fled to find a new life in the United States.
This is not meant to promote any one religion, but to show how all have blended together within the City of Grand Rapids to make this one great place to live.
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
On March 1, 1913, Greeks were the feature of an article in the Grand Rapids Press which highlighted their contribution to the city. At that time, a visiting priest held services at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Parish House for those of the Greek Orthodox faith. During the early 1920’s, services were held at Woodman Hall on Bostwick Avenue. In 1925 a formal church council was formed and worked to purchase a house at 1000 Cherry Street SE in 1928 to serve as the church home. The upstairs served as a Greek school in the afternoons.
By 1955, the church community had outgrown the house and a new facility was built at the current location.
(Source: http://www.holytrinitygoc.org/about-us/)