Trinity Facts

“History of Trinity Church Buildings” by Peggy King 

Napanee’s Trinity United Church is located at the corner of Bridge Street and John Street on a piece of land which was used as a place of Christian Worship by the Wesleyan Methodists in 1840.  No description of the original building survives, but records show that in 1841 a brick church was built on the site.  This Wesleyan Methodist Church, part of the Napanee Circuit, was dedicated by the circuit minister at the time, Rev. Gilbert Miller. 

In 1861 the congregation had outgrown the little brick church, and it was replaced by a stone church, the third building to occupy the site.  It was a fairly commodious building with a basement Sunday School, a roomy auditorium with a gallery on three sides, and a spire which reached a height of 150 feet from the ground.   The projected budget for the erection of the building was $5000.  In 1877 a motion was passed providing for the addition of an alcove at the north end and an entrance from John Street. 

Gradually, with increased membership and additional organization activity, this building became inadequate for the congregation.  Finally in 1906, when Rev. W.H. Emsley was pastor, the stone church was torn down and construction started on the lovely church building that stands on the site today.  The curved pews, divided by three aisles, slope gently to the corner pulpit.  The choir loft is to the left of the pulpit, and on the right, a massive roll-up wall, which seems to disappear magically into the ceiling to open the sanctuary into the balconied multi-purpose room behind it. In 1907 the new building was opened and dedicated, with Rev. J.J. Rae, the President of the Conference, as speaker for the occasion.  

By this time the Wesleyan Methodist Church was commonly referred to as the Eastern Methodist Church, while its sister church, also on Bridge Street, the Episcopal Methodist Church was being called the Western Methodist Church.  These later became Trinity Methodist and Grace Methodist. 

In 1925, the year of the formation of the United Church of Canada, Trinity Methodist became Trinity United Church, and its sister church, Grace Methodist, became Grace United.  In 1939 St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church disbanded, and the remaining members joined Trinity United.  In 1967 Presbytery ordered the Bay Circuit to be closed and their church records to be transferred to Trinity Church for safe-keeping.  Many members of these churches decided to make Trinity their home church, bringing with them their many talents and their loyalty, and adding their strong heritage of service and devotion to their adopted church. 

A major refurbishment of the building, inside and out, was initiated in 1988 and completed by the time of Trinity’s sesquicentennial year in 1990.  The Trinity ’90 Committee members were Allan McLaughlin, Barbara Cowle, Eleanor VanLuven, Joyce McLellan, Bruce Finlay Jr., Arthur Dawson, Fred McConnell and Rev. Philip Hobbs.

References:  “The Story of the Years” A Brief History of Trinity United Church, Napanee, Ontario.  Prepared as a souvenir of the 100^th Anniversary, Observed April 7, 14, 21, 1940, by C. Limbert Graham, and “Trinity 1840-1990”, Trinity Sesquicentennial Committee, A. Douglas Alkenbrack, Nan Alkenbrack, Beth Alkenbrack, Jean Burns, Barbara Cowle, Marion McConnell.

Trinity Today

Trinity has an active Outreach program which supports both local and distant missions through the United Church of Canada and directly. In the past year, a well was drilled in Tanzania  supported soley by the efforts of Trinity congregation to bring water to local residents in that region.

Trinity has a first-rate Christian music program of both adult and youth which incorporates a wide variety of music in our weekly services. Special choir events happen throughout the church year.

Christian Education at Trinity includes Sunday School, Bible Study group, and Resource Centre.