Raised & Resilient
Current Construction Update
Site PreparationWith worship now taking place in the Parish Hall, work is well underway on the church site.
The first phase focused on carefully removing and preserving architectural, liturgical, and historic elements that will return to the replicated church. With the existing church now removed, demolition and site preparation continue as we make way for the elevated structure.
Behind the scenes, our architects, contractor, engineers, acousticians, organ builders, and audiovisual consultants continue coordinating the many details that will come together in the new church.
Preserving
Treasured elements of the church have been carefully removed and stored for their return.
Preparing
The existing structure has made way for the elevated and strengthened church.
Coordinating
The systems that support worship-from acoustics and lighting to audiovisual systems and the new pipe organ-are being carefully integrated into the plans.
Preserving What We Love.
Building for the Future.
For generations, the church at Trinity-by-the-Cove has been a sacred place of worship, prayer, celebration, and remembrance. It is a building filled with memories: baptisms and weddings, funerals and confirmations, Christmas Eves and Easter mornings, quiet prayers and glorious music.
Hurricanes Ian and Milton demonstrated that simply repairing the church after each storm was no longer enough.
Our response is both practical and faithful: to replicate the church we know and love, elevate it above the threat of future flooding, strengthen it against wind and storm, and incorporate improvements that will serve worship and ministry for generations to come.
And it will still be Trinity-by-the-Cove.
Preserving What We Love
The scale, proportions, and architectural character of the church are being faithfully replicated. Wherever possible, familiar elements are being carefully removed, preserved, and prepared for use again-including the reredos, altar, arched window casings, door frames, lighting fixtures, and other pieces of the church we have known.
Raising & Strengthening
The church will be elevated approximately four feet "above the FEMA flood elevation" and constructed to current standards for wind and flood resilience. The surrounding churchyards will also be raised, helping protect both the building and the sacred spaces around it.
Building for Worship
Rebuilding also gives us the opportunity to make thoughtful improvements to acoustics, lighting, audiovisual systems, hearing assistance, accessibility, and other building systems-all while preserving the beauty and intimacy of worship at Trinity-by-the-Cove.
The Journey
From the storms that changed our understanding of the church's vulnerability to the work now underway, each step has helped shape the path forward.
Hurricane Ian
Significant flooding damaged the church and its contents, beginning a long process of restoration.
Hurricane Milton
A second major flood made clear that simply repairing the church again would not provide the long-term protection needed.
A Vision Takes Shape
Trinity began developing a plan to replicate the church at a higher elevation and strengthen it against future storms.
A Firm Foundation
Trinity launched A Firm Foundation, the capital campaign created to make the vision possible.
The Goal Is Surpassed
Gifts and pledges surpassed the campaign's $10 million goal within five months.
The Work Begins
On September 6, we worshiped in the church for the final time. A few days later, preservation work began as the congregation settled into the Parish Hall.
A Church Renewed
We will return to a church that is new yet familiar-raised, strengthened, and ready to serve generations to come.
The Cornerstone
As the old church was being prepared for demolition, we opened its cornerstone.
Inside were items placed there by an earlier generation of Trinitarians, including a Collier County newspaper dated December 22, 1950, papers preserved in a Mason jar, and a small vial whose contents had disappeared with the passing years.
It was a small discovery with a wonderful message.
When the cornerstone of the replicated church is placed, we will continue that tradition. The names of all who participated in A Firm Foundation will be included as part of the record we leave for those who come after us.
THE JOURNEY AHEAD
With preservation complete and the former structure removed, the work now turns toward building the church that will carry Trinity-by-the-Cove into its next chapter.
Preparing the Site
Site work and preparation make way for the new elevated church and surrounding churchyards.
Building the Church
The replicated church begins to rise-elevated and strengthened while preserving the character of the church we know and love.
Preparing for Worship
Interior finishes, lighting, acoustics, audiovisual systems, furnishings, and the new pipe organ come together.
Returning Home
In 2027, we anticipate returning to a church that is both familiar and renewed, ready to serve generations to come.
A Firm Foundation
Through A Firm Foundation, the Trinity-by-the-Cove parish family has responded with extraordinary generosity to help make this vision possible.
Gifts and pledges have surpassed the campaign's original $10 million goal, providing a strong foundation for the work now underway.
The opportunity to participate continues. Additional gifts will help support the project and provide for the long-term care and maintenance of the church for generations to come.