An undated photo of Trinity Episcopal Church , located at the intersection of Fifth and Market streets in Ottumwa . The church is built into a hillside , with access below and above street level . The church building was constructed in 1894 , 37 years after the church was founded . Photo courtesy of the Lemberger Collection
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Seven people gathered to begin what was then called the First Church of Christ Scientist on Fourth and Market streets in 1857 . When the first building was first consecrated in 1879 , 196 people were present for the occasion .
However , it took just over a decade for the building to become too small , and a name change to the current Trinity Episcopal Church occurred in 1894 . The original church building was sold , a new building constructed on a hillside on Fifth and Market streets .
As a result , entrances to the church exist at street level on Market Street and below it .