Church History

In 1836, the non-denominational Union Church was constructed in the Village of Euclid and was part of the Circuit
Rider Conference, in which preachers would travel 50 miles or more a week on foot or horseback to serve their
churches.  By 1851, Methodism was becoming prominent in the area.  The Union Church serviced three Protestant
denominations at that time, but the Methodist Society was growing stronger in influence and in 1854 acquired the
church and their first resident Pastor.  A new building was built to house the Methodist Society in 1886 and was
named the Euclid Methodist Church on present day Morgan Road near Route 31.

Concurrent with this period of Christian history in the area, Brother Abram Morgan and a group of fellow Christians
constructed the Morgan Church in 1839, south of Euclid on the corner of present day Morgan Road and Wetzel
Road.  In 1867, Rev. Morgan retired, and serving as Church Elder, joined with the Euclid Methodist Church.  For
almost a century, the two village churches shared the same pastor.

In 1961, under the leadership of Rev. Paul J. Beeman (1959-1961), the two churches dedicated their efforts to
building a new parsonage for their pastor as the old one across from the Euclid church was in need of much
repair.  The new parsonage was built on a site of land approximately 7 1/2 acres, presented to the Euclid and
Morgan Churches in October, 1960 by Mr. & Mrs. Howard Mosher, in memory of her brother, Theodore Hudson.  
One acre was designated for the site of the parsonage and 6 1/2 acres for the site of the new church.  The land
was originally part of a 640 acres land grant to a soldier from General George Washington.  Making plans for the
new parsonage was a team effort by the two congregations, and the contract was awarded to Mr. Scherer for
construction.  Moving day was March 25, 1961.  Rev. Beeman left in June 1961 to serve in Seattle, Washington.

Rev. Jack R. Buskey arrived in June 1961, amid a flurry of activities.  On September 17, 1961, the parsonage
consecration service was held in the basement of the new parsonage.  On September 24th the Euclid church with
guests and participants of the Morgan church celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Euclid organization and the
75th anniversary of the church building.

Working on these joint efforts was a rewarding experience, so the two churches chose to continue as one church.  
On August 26, 1962, the Morgan and Euclid Churches were duly constituted as a merged church by the District
Superintendent of the Methodist Conference.  On October 7, 1962, the congregation voted to name the new church
Trinity United Methodist Church and a 'future site' sign was placed on the church property north of the new
parsonage on Morgan Road.

On September 29, 1963, while celebrating our first anniversary, we rejoiced by retiring the debt on our new
parsonage.  Immediately following this, a successful building fund program was launched and plans were
undertaken to erect an educational wing, the first phase of our new church building.  On Easter Sunday, March 29,
1964, the Trinity United Methodist Church broke ground for the educational wing.  The first service was conducted
in the new church on November 1, 1964.

In June 1969, Rev. Buskey left to serve the Manlius Methodist Church.  From 1970 to 1976, Rev. Carl Johnson
served as our pastor.  In 1971, our church began sponsoring the Nursery School, a pre-school for 3 and 4 year old
children.  In 1976, Rev. Hollis Hayward came to serve our church until his retirement in 1979.

In June 1979, Rev. Roy E. Hansen became the pastor of Trinity.  Surveys of interest were taken; and in June 1981,
a committee was elected to investigate the feasibility of completing the church building by adding a sanctuary wing
in fulfillment of our original goal.  In June 1982, the congregation was presented with a plan, a scale model, and
recommendations by the committee.  A successful three year pledge toward our goals had been inaugurated
during this period.  In December 1982, William Bargabos, A United Methodist in Cazenovia, deeded a 30 acre
parcel of land to Trinity Church.  The land is situated to the north of the church building and has become known as
"North Trinity".

The new sanctuary was consecrated on March 17, 1985.  In July 1985, Rev. Hansen departed to become a
hospital chaplain.  Bishop Forrest C. Smith appointed Rev. Ronald F. Hoffman as our new Pastor.  Rev. Hoffman,
with his wife Barbara, came to Trinity after 16 years experience in the ministry.

Trinity's very successful fund raiser, "Grandma's Old-Fashioned Roast Beef Dinner" started in 1986.  We have
continued this fund raiser every spring and fall and all have been profitable.  The Mary Circle's table of homemade
crafts and goodies for sale also adds to the profits of the Roast Beef Dinner and our annual Garage Sale, "Trinity
Treasures," is another successful annual fund raiser.  These fund raisers help Trinity with our financial struggles
as we meet our expenses, while our hardworking members are rewarded with fun and fellowship.

In 1992, our church basement was remodeled and new Sunday School classrooms were built.  Also in 1992,
Trinity bought a new organ through generous donations to the Organ Fund.  The new organ is an electronic organ
that nearly duplicates the sound of a pipe organ through digital sampling.  In September 1999, the Aimee Franc
Memorial Playground was dedicated for all the Trinity children to enjoy.

Rev. Hoffman retired in July, 2001 after sixteen years as our spiritual leader.  He taught our congregation, his
extended family, about the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.  Rev. & Mrs. Hoffman now reside is Syracuse.

Rev. Thomas O'Donnell became our minister in July 2001, moving from New Hartford, New York with his wife,
Susan.  With Pastor Tom's guidance, we refinanced our mortgage in order to make much needed improvements
to our church building and parsonage.  Also, our parking lot was paved.  Pastor Tom resigned in September, 2003.

In November 2003 interim Pastor Rev. Gary Bergh arrived and was with us until January, 2004.  Then interim
Pastor, Rev. Patricia Jelinek, was with us for six months.  Both pastors were wonderful.  Many Trinity members
also assumed leadership roles or volunteered extra duties during this time of transition for our church.

Our Roast Beef Dinners continued as well as our Garage Sales.  Our Food Pantry donations continued.  We had
two Blood Drives.  Our Youth Group participated in fun activities and mission  projects.

On July 1, 2004, Rev. Dr. Sudarshana Devadhar (our former District Superintendent) became our pastor with the
stipulation that he may be elected Bishop at our Methodist Northeast Jurisdictional Conference on July 15th.  As
expected, "Dr. Suda" was elected, so Trinity's new pastor became the Bishop for New Jersey, leaving us in
September, 2004.

Joyfully, our Bishop Violet Fisher and new District Superintendent, Rev. David Underwood, sent us a new pastor in
October, 2004, the Rev. Marti Swords-Horrell.  The parsonage was readied for Rev. Marti and her husband, Rev.
Dana Horrell, and their two children, Nathan and Madeline.  Previously sharing Rev. Marti with Phoenix United
Methodist Church, Bishop Violet Fisher appointed Marti as a full time pastor at Clay Trinity on July 1, 2005.

In June 2008 Pastor Patience Kisakye arrived.

Trinity United Methodist Church has a rich history dating back 170 years.  The Euclid Church bell, which graces the
front of our church with our three crosses, was dedicated in 1858.  We have a proud Christian heritage which has
been left to us by all the dedicated members who have done the Lord's work, giving us a wondrous past and
anticipating a strong future.


Edited by Jane Cole from the writings of Nancy K. Coburn and Trinity newsletters.