FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF)- The Fort Worth Trinity Episcopal Church has closed and canceled services after a church leader tested positive for the Coronavirus.
Late Tuesday, March 10, leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and Trinity Episcopal Church learned that the Rev. Dr. Robert Pace, rector of Trinity Episcopal, has the first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Tarrant County. Pace is hospitalized and in isolation. His wife, the Rev. Dr. Jill Walters, has tested negative, but will remain in self-quarantine at home for 14 days.
Trinity’s Preschool is on Spring Break this week and church officials say preschool students had no exposure to Pace.
Trinity has canceled all worship services this Sunday, March 15.
In consultation with Tarrant County Public Health, the staff at Trinity have identified the people who attended the March 4 Lenten program, about 45 people. Pace spoke at this event. Trinity has notified them to be alert for a phone call from Tarrant County Public Health Department to check on their health and to discuss what they should be monitoring themselves for. “They will each individually get a call and check on them daily- they will also be asked to check their temperatures a couple of times a day,” said Katie Sherrod with Trinity Episcopal. Sherrod said based on exposure to Pace, no one else is at risk.
Trinity and the diocesan staff are exploring ways to gather in community in an online worship service.