Trinity United Methodist Church

The “Charter Members” from the Tabernacle period (1905/06).

M. Wall
Myrtle Wall (later Hunt)

J.R. Phillips
Ella Phillips
J.W. Phillips

C.C. Pierce
R. H. Pierce
F.W. Pierce

C.H. Emerson
Mrs. C.H. Emerson

O. Ahlberg
A. Ahlberg

W.A. Emerson
Mrs. E. Emerson

Wm. A. Pierce

Mrs. M. Shaw (later Krueger)

Mrs. E. Thompson (later Brown)

L. Schofield

The Trinity Ladies Band helped fund the new church by playing in other churches. Photograph from 1905.

Archie McAllister; Director
Morgan Wall, Manager

Solo cornet: Miss Kittie Pomeroy, Morgan Wall
First cornet: Miss Mattie Shaw
Second cornet : Miss Francis Hall

Tenor horn: Miss Katie Brockway

Slide trombone: Miss Louise Morrison, Mrs. Morgan Wall

Alto horn: Miss Lynette Burrell, Miss Hazel Pierce

Clarinet: Miss Kathryn Kirk

Baritone: Miss Audrey Pomeroy

Bass tuba: Miss Rose Burnell

Snare drum: Arthur Eyman

Bass drum: Mrs. Clara McAllister

Original members of Trinity in 1904 when congregation gathered at the Ridgewood School:
Mortimer Baker
Mrs. M. Baker

Albert Brown
Mrs. F. Brown

Mrs. V. Brockway

Stephen Miller
George Miller
Edith Miller
Fred Miller
E.Miller

Anna Nomenson

Mrs. S.J. Johnson

Mary Pierce

A. Pomeroy
Audrey Pomeroy

A. Rix

Emma Schofield

A second list of charter members was added when the church began to meet in the framework of tabernacle.

Cover of Trinity’s 1923 Yearbook

Sorting out photos from Trinity productions of “The Waz,” “Cinderella,” and “Pinocho.” Dates seem to be early 1980’s.

Phyllis Sterling sits at the piano, the child is identified as Jimmy N.

March 29 will be the last day of serving clients of the Ridgewood United Community Food Pantry at the former Trinity building. We will be reopening on May 10th a few blocks away. More details to come as we finalize plans.

Photos from a Sunday School picnic—looks like the men enjoyed a burlap sack race! Anyone recognize someone or have clue to date (looks like 1950’s at first glance)?

VBS? 1950’s? Recognize anyone? Mounted on the same page as the 1957 VBS photo

Vacation Bible School 1957–do you recognize anyone?

Mother’s Day 1942. Anyone recognize someone? War years—I have to wonder how many had sons (and occasionally a daughter) in service. Looks like a bit of a chilly early May.

Edit—more than one Reverend Stafford in Trinity’s history. The second one served in the 1940’s. Based on a similar photo of women which is marked “Mother’s Day 1942,” and info provided by others, I suspect the year is 1942.

The front steps were a popular spot for photo shoots. Reverend Stafford was pastor from 1911-1913.

First row: Aaron Rosen (?), Lee Comer, Jim Blood,

Second row: Frank Lindbergh, Bill Kelly, Loren Swinford

Third row: Dave Larson, Roy Hedstrom, Henry Grendheim, Art Hays

Fourth row: (?) William Yates, Reverend Stafford, Henry Pisha and William Smith

Back: Jerry Zimmerman

The Trinity Ladies Band—raised money for the young congregation.

The stage of Trinity’s Community Hall was well-used over the years. Scenes from a production of Cinderella! Joan N. as Cinderella, Reverend Judith in the mint green, Chris in the floral, Joan J. In the brown and Bette T. in the pink floral.

Cinderella continued! Better call the gender police; those “gals” in the saucy chorus line have beards.

A Palm Sunday Choir.

Trinity Choir—possibly 1953?

Senior Choir 1955–Organist Phyllis Sterling, Pastor John Keenon, Director Wayne Engle,

Front Row: (left to right) Adeline (Swinford) Zagers, Janet Nelson, Jeanne Swinford

Second Row: Dolores Marston, Wanda Button, Janice Markstrom, Elaine Werner, Loren Swinford, Ed Murphy, Howard Swanstrom

Third Row: Esther Johnson, Violet Smith, Tilda Swinford, Lola Swithin, Kay Myers, Omar Myers, Gerals Johnson, Ron Koerber

The Hinners Organ in the Trinity building was crafted in Pekín, IL.

The north wall of the Trinity building was dominated by a portrayal of Jesus at prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. The smaller windows on either side include symbols of the sacraments, the baptismal font and the chalice.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…”

In the 19th century and first half of the twentieth century, Protestant Christianity allegorized this passage from Revelation 3:19-20. Christ was understood to knock at the door of the human heart, a door without an exterior handle emphasizing the volitional human response. Those who opened the door and let Christ in experienced a saving relationship.

The south wall of Trinity’s sanctuary was dominated by this allegorical interpretation of the relationship between Christ and the believer. The windows on either side depicted the 10 Commandments and the Bible.

How has this window and/or this allegory spoken to you?

William Hatton was chair of Trustees at Trinity at some point during the 1920’s. He lived on Ridgewood Avenue and worked for the railroad. His photograph was discovered in the back of a closet during clean out. I would love to give it to a descendant rather than just tossing it out. Any ideas on his family?

Trinity United Methodist Church updated their address.

“Enter to worship, depart to serve.” As one leaves through the front door of the Trinity sanctuary, the image in the window sends one off with a final message, “depart to serve.” The cross integrated into a globe represents our Christian ministry in the world. Yesterday we closed on the sale of the Trinity property, a sad moment for those who found their spiritual home in the community that worshipped in this space for over a century. But even as we leave, the building whispers a sending forth, “depart to serve,”

The original Trinity building—1905.

Phyllis Sterling at the organ.

Architectural watercolor of Trinity’s sanctuary.