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In the Beginning … A LOOK BACK Sometime before 1940, J. 0. Merritt, a salesman for Thomas and Howard, a wholesale grocery broker, had the dream of a Methodist Church near his home on Augusta Street. Mr. Merritt’s father had been a minister, and J. 0. had been active at St. Paul for a long time. Conversations with Rev. David W. Reese, Jr., Assistant Pastor of St. Paul, shows that considerations for a church were being made before 1940. In the years following World War II, it became increasingly evident that a Methodist Church was needed in the Augusta Road area. The City Board of Missions and Church Extension was organized on March 8, 1946. This group, along with J. 0. Merritt, Rev. B. B. Black, C. E. Prichette, and J. A. Henry, purchased a lot at the corner of Park Drive, now Country Club Drive, and Augusta Road. The lot consisted of 1.76 acres. The first $500 payment on the lot was given by St. Paul Methodist Church, Rev. H. 0. Chambers, Pastor. The next $1000 was given from the Crusade for Christ. In April of 1946, Rev. David W. Reese, Jr., was appointed by the Bishop to come to the Augusta Road area and begin the survey for the new church. The salary for the year was paid by the persons who had expressed a desire to become a part of the new church, by the Conference Board of Missions and Church Extension, and the Board of Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist Church. The first meeting held for the purpose of getting some temporary organization was at Buncombe Street Methodist Church on September 12, 1946. Those attending that organizational meeting were Paul Byrd, Mrs. Paul Fincher, Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Karns, B. G. Martin, J. 0. Merritt, T. H. Robelot, R. K. Rouse, Mrs. H. K. Thayer, Mr. & Mrs. Powell Thomas, T. R. Tindall, and Mrs. B. M. Weeks. A temporary steering committee was appointed: J.0. Merritt, Chairman, T. H. Robelot, Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Kenneth Karns, Secretary, and Powell Thomas, Treasurer. Dr. B. R. Turnipseed, D. B. Leatherwood, and Rev. David W. Reese, Jr., met informally to discuss raising money to establish the church. These three persons felt that they might be able to find five men in Greenville who would give $5000 each as memorials for men lost in service during World War II. Thus the name Memorial was given to the church. Sometime later, it was changed to Trinity. In October, 1946, Rev. David W. Reese, Jr., was appointed to serve Mt. View Methodist Church due to the death of their pastor. The next conference year, Mt. View and Bethel from the Old Greenville Circuit were placed on a charge with Memorial Church. Mr. Reese served the three churches during the Conference Year, 1946-47, and served Memorial and Mt. View for the 1947-48 Conference year. At the end of that time, Memorial was made a station. For a few months prior to August 1947, services were held for Memorial Church in Southside Baptist Church. The meetings were held on Monday night and very little is known of their activities. On August 25, 1947, a group of interested persons met in Augusta Circle School, organized formally into a church, and named it Memorial Methodist Church. Dr. B. R. Turnipseed, District Superintendent, presided over the meeting. Attending the August 25 meeting were Mrs. H. P. Childers, Mr. & Mrs. C. C. Campbell, Mr. & Mrs. I. W. Brabham, John Mahaffey, F. D. Hunt, C. G. McCain, Henry Welborn, Jr., Tommy Welbom, Paul Byrd, Powell Thomas, Joy Thomas, Mrs. J. 0. Jones, Mrs. Bennie Lee Sinclair, Mr. & Mrs. T. H. Robelot, R.K. Rouse, Rev. David W. Reese, Jr., J. 0. Merritt, Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Merritt, Dr. B. R. Turnipseed, and Dr. J. R. Owings. Dr. Turnipseed formally organized the church and the first Board of Stewards was elected. Elected were Paul Byrd, Charles Cely, Paul Holder, Frank Hunt, J. 0. Merritt, Chairman, W. R. Merritt, Secretary, James Moseley, Thomas H. Robelot, Vice-Chairman, R. K. Rouse, William H. Stroud, T. R. Tindall, and Powell Thomas, Treasurer. The Board of Trustees for the newly formed church were F. Ashmore, Jr., J. W. Brabham, John Davenport, J. L. Mahaffey, and Carl McCain. R. K. Rouse, Charles Cely, Thomas H. Robelot, and Powell Thomas served at the Building Committee. The first regular worship service for the new church was held in Augusta Circle School on February 29, 1948. Many interested people attended this first service. Services were continuous for the newly formed church, and by this time, there were 95 members. The architectural firm of Cunningham and Walker designed the first building, and a contract was signed with the builders, Carr and Brown, for the first phase of the structure in February 1948. Construction could not begin until the solid rock found on the lot was removed. During this period, some construction materials were difficult to obtain, but on September 19, 1948, the congregation held their first meeting in their new one-floor, flat-top building with Dr. B. R. Turnipseed, District Superintendent, conducting the first service. The 161 members had discussed renaming the church. New name suggestions were sent to the membership, and by write-in vote, the church was named TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH. The congregation worshipped in this first building for two years. From 1946-48, the pastor of the church lived in the District Parsonage at 210 B. Earle Street while the District Superintendent, R. B. Turnipseed and his wife, were living in their own home on Augusta Road. Trinity church paid $360 for the use of the house on B. Earle. A new District Superintendent was expected for the conference year 1947-48, and it was necessary that the Board of Stewards look at building or buying a new parsonage for their minister. A lot was purchased on W. Faris Road for a cost of $2500, but due to church indebtedness, they could not borrow the money needed to build the parsonage. The pastor offered to use his G.I. Bill privileges, but because of G.I. Bill restrictions, he was unable to do so. Mr. John Davenport loaned the church $9500, the full amount needed for the parsonage. Construction was begun in August 1948. The church was active and growing during these formative years. In March 1948, a committee was appointed to make preliminary plans for organizing a Women’s Society of Christian Service. The first membership class was received into the church on January 16, 1949. The first series of revivals was held during the weeks from September 15 to October 2, 1949. After using the one-story building for approximately two years, a contract was signed with Bailey and Brazill for the construction of a second floor with brick veneer siding and a permanent roof. Rev. David Reese was called back to active duty as a Chaplain, and the Rev. R. L. Bringman served as interim pastor. In the fall of 1952, Rev. S. R. Glenn was appointed to Trinity. In September 1954, the $30,000 mortgage for the first stage of the church was paid in full. Plans were soon under-way for a new sanctuary. Cunningham and Walker were again architects for the new building. In November 1954, construction was begun on the $125,000 sanctuary by builder, J. P. Rosamond and Sons. The first service was held in the sanctuary on October 23, 1955. The beautiful altar window was dedicated by the first Board of Stewards in memory of the late J. 0. Merritt. During Rev. Glenn’s ministry at Trinity a total of 479 members were received into the church. At the next annual conference, Rev. R. Carl Griffith was assigned to Trinity. During his ministry, the church continued to grow. The first full-time Director of Christian Education was hired and plans were approved for an additional wing to house children’s classes and a through-the-week kindergarten. When the Rev. Carl Parker was assigned to Trinity in 1961, the parsonage was moved to a lot adjoining the church, and the children’s wing was constructed. In 1965, the Rev. Melvin Derrick was appointed to Trinity, and shortly thereafter, the Rev. Eugene Bedenbaugh began his tenure as Director of Christian Education. Rev. Bedenbaugh remained at Trinity for 15 years. Additional property for parking playground was purchased across Augusta Street. While Rev. Lupo was serving as pastor, the church purchased a house at Lake Junaluska for use as a retreat center, and added a portal at the Educational/kindergarten entrance of the educational building. Rev. William R. Kinnett became pastor in 1974, and he led in planning for the Pastoral Counseling and Personal Growth Center. Dr. John Miller became Minister of Counseling and has served as director since its beginning. The sanctuary was completely renovated in 1982, during the pastorate of Rev. Eben Taylor, and a thirty-two rank Schantz organ was purchased. Rev. George Whitaker became pastor in 1983, and he was succeeded by Rev. Bob Waddell in 1986. In 1988, the long range planning committee determined that additional parking was needed, and when additional building was needed, we would have to use the land beside the church where the present parsonage was located. The search committee found a house on Waccamaw Avenue, and it was purchased as the new church parsonage. The house on Augusta Street was sold along with the two lots located across the street from the church. Rev. Waddell and his family moved into the newly remodeled parsonage in the spring of 1989. Rev. Waddell was succeeded by Rev. Mike Cox in the summer of 1990. In June 1992, Carolyn Davis joined the staff of Trinity as Director of Christian Education and is very actively involved with all areas and ages. The following June 1993, the Rev. Eugene Curry came to Trinity. In late 1994, the back entrance to the church building was remodeled and an elevator installed to meet the needs of the handicapped or elderly. Rev. Curry and his wife Carol and family were the third family to live in the parsonage on Waccamaw Avenue. June 1998 brought Rev. John Warren to Trinity as our latest pastor. John brings vitality, energy, and spirit to our church as we continue our celebration and Christian service to the Greenville community. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, Trinity’s 500+ members continue to reach out in Christian love through the day-care and kindergarten, Pastoral Counseling and Personal Growth, community volunteers, Volunteers in Mission, both local and foreign, and through love and support of one another. *adapted from the Trinity UMC 50th Anniversary Church Planner, same title as above.
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The space for this web site has been provided courtesy of the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church The content of these home pages is the responsibility of Julius Earle, Jr, MD. Please send feedback to TRINITY UMC Last updated: 08/28/01 23:19:26 -0400
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