Our History
A Texas Conference of the Methodist Epsicopal Church was established in 1840. The question of slavery caused a division into the Texas Conference and the East Texas Conference in 1844. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South and Texas Conferences became a part of the new organization.
The Methodist Church at Trinity, Texas seems to have been organized in the year 1872 by Rev. Woolam, who came to Trinity once a month on his circuit of twelve or fifteen other points. A school house constructed in 1873 was used as a place of worship. One source mentions services were held in the rear of the Barnes and Lister Store.
Rev. H. C. Millican, a Methodist minister, held camp meetings in 1878 two miles south of the townsite of Trinity. A church was located there and people went in buggies and wagons for all day meetings with "dinner on the ground". Millican Cemetery is the present day reminder where those earlier days of happy fellowship and worship were enjoyed.
The Methodists built their first church building at Trinity in 1880. It was a one-room structure that very soon proved to be too small for the congregation. An addition was made to the building in 1902 and it was enlarged again in 1913. The final form after the addition of a kindergarten room and a wing was roughly the letter "T". The church building faced East and was a white frame structure located at the corner of Robb and Madison streets. A Methodist Sunday School report in 1914 shows eight teachers and one hundred eight pupils in attendance with a total offering of two dollars and thirty-one cents.
The original church building was erected during the pastorate of A. J. Frick. About 1916-18 when Rev. J. F. Kidd was pastor, a movement was started to build a new structure. During 1926-1928 when Rev. R. E. Connell was pastor the construction was begun and almost completed. Rev. W. D. White on his second Sunday in Trinity in 1929 preached the first sermon in the new building.
The church has a marker established by the Texas Historical Commission. It reads:
This congregation was organized in 1872, the same year the City of Trinity was founded. The Rev. John Woolam is credited with the establishment of the church and also served as its first itinerate minister. Woolam held services in Trinity one Sunday each month. his preaching circuit at that time consisted on 12 to 15 stations, including Trinity, Nevilles Prairie, Blackland, and Lovelady. Early worship services were held in the Barnes-Lister store in Trinity. In 1873 a one-room log schoolhouse was constructed, an it served for a time as a community church building as well. The Methodist congregation built the first sanctuary during the early 1880s at the corner of what is now Robb and Madison. The one-room building soon became too small for the growing fellowship, and additions were made in 1902 and in 1913. The current sanctuary was completed in 1928. Throughout its history, Trinity United Methodist Church has provided significant service and leadership to the community. With its emphasis on christian education and missionary programs, the congregation continues to uphold the ideals and traditions of its founders.
On November 29, 2000 a live oak was removed to make way for extensive additions to the old two story building. Due to an aging population, a larger elevator was installed with access through a new entry foyer with exterior canopy. This new addition also houses offices for our pastor. This phase 1 adding 1700 square feet was completed in December, 2001. Phase 2 included the addition of 3600 sq. feet which includes a large kitchen and activity center. This section was first used for a luncheon honoring the teachers at Trinity public schools in August of 2002.
Our history is not complete. It is not the story of one group of people nor a recounting of properties. All of this is due to dedicated Christians who gave of their time and money for a House of Worship. It is the history of movement, of service and of worship for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
