Howard Lewis is the co-chair of Trinity Cathedral’s Capital Campaign, Honoring Our Legacy, Growing in Love, working alongside the other co-chair, Cynthia Ries. In this conversation, Howard reflects on his long connection to Trinity, his leadership experience, and the vision guiding this important effort to sustain and strengthen the cathedral for the future.
Q: Can you share a bit about your background at Trinity and how you first became involved in the Capital Campaign?
I have been attending services at Trinity since 1978. A couple of years ago, Dean Owens began conversations with me about serving as one of the leaders for gifts in this campaign.
I’ve also been privileged to serve on a number of community boards and to take on leadership roles in several capital campaigns, including the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, the Great Lakes Science Center, Tri-C, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs, Ginn Academy, Open Doors Academy, and the University of Kentucky.
Q: What are the key goals or priorities of Trinity’s Capital Campaign?
Our responsibility to the facilities required us to carefully assess and study what needs to be done. The considerations are naturally separated into maintenance and renovation. Once the scope of repair and construction was understood, it became clear that a guiding vision was essential.
The Dean emphasized that the congregation’s engagement is central—that it holds the insight and vision for what our ministry, mission, and desired outcomes should be.
A long-held view of Trinity as the “front porch of the community” continues to guide us as we seek new possibilities and opportunities to remain a clear and compelling voice of the Gospel.
Q: Why are these updates or improvements needed now?
The cathedral’s historic windows require repair, and their protection is an ongoing responsibility.
Access to Cathedral Hall is also limited due to HVAC challenges. In addition, the main door leading to the gardens is a pressing issue, and the leaded windows require ongoing care and attention.
Q: How will these changes impact the congregation and the broader community?
The renovation of Cathedral Hall opens up enormous possibilities for worship, music, programming, and educational and social events. These improvements will serve not only the cathedral congregation, but also the diocese and the broader community.
Q: Is there a moment or a story that captures why this work matters?
Marous Brothers Construction shared historic photographs of the original church—what we now call Cathedral Hall—which was used for worship while the cathedral was being built in the early 1900s.
Those images carry a deep emotional weight. They remind us of the important role and legacy that Trinity Cathedral has held as the city’s Protestant cathedral for generations.
Q: Why should people consider supporting the Capital Campaign?
First and foremost, we all share the responsibility, in our time, to maintain the physical structure and footprint of the cathedral.
In this moment, we honor the legacy of this historic tradition by protecting what we have inherited. We are the guardians of that vision—the keepers of a flame that has served as a beacon of hope for more than 210 years.