Trinity United Methodist Church

Trinity United Methodist Church, historically known as First Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church or Dayton Methodist Episcopal Church (North), stands as a testament to Dayton’s complex relationship with faith and science. Constructed from handmade brick in 1888, the church was pastored in 1925 by Rev. Howard G. Byrd, an advocate of evolution. Just a month before the Scopes Trial, Byrd joined fellow Dayton ministers in affirming the Bible as “the source of true wisdom.” However, tensions erupted when he invited Rev. Charles Francis Potter of New York City’s West Side Unitarian Church to speak on evolution. The mere announcement of Potter’s sermon sparked outrage among congregants, who threatened to "lock the doors" and "wreck the church" if Byrd did not rescind the invitation. Undeterred, Byrd stood firm, but Potter ultimately canceled, posting a sign at Robinson’s Drugstore stating, “Dr. Potter has cancelled his evolution sermon this morning at the Methodist Episcopal Church owing to the threat of the congregation.” In response to the turmoil, Byrd defiantly declared, “I have quit. I have not resigned; I have quit.” Despite his popularity, the congregation did not persuade him to stay.

In 2017, John and Lindsey Bamber acquired the church and parsonage, preserving the historic structure through meticulous restoration. Today, the former church serves as an event space, while the parsonage has been repurposed as a short-term rental, ensuring the building’s legacy endures in a new form.