A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRINITY CHURCH

Trinity has been blessed with strong lay and pastoral leadership throughout our long and rich history. In our first 100 years we had only three rectors who laid a firm foundation for the parish.

In 1732 Newtown's Congregational minister, the Reverend John Beach, converted to the Anglican Church, causing considerable turmoil in the town. He sailed to Scotland where he was ordained by an Anglican bishop and upon his return, conducted his first service as rector of what was to become Trinity parish.

John Beach was by all accounts a giant of the early Anglican-Episcopal tradition in America. Unpopular though it was, Beach supported the Crown throughout the American Revolution, surviving threats both to his life and ministry. He died in 1782, the year before the Revolution ended and the year before the formal establishment of the American Episcopal Church.

When the Reverend Daniel Burhans, D.D. became rector in 1799, Trinity was the largest parish in the diocese with 300 communicants. Trinity grew physically as well. John Beach's first church was a 28 foot by 24 foot structure located near the corner of Main Street and Glover Avenue. In 1746 a larger building was built on the west side of Main Street. Then, in 1793, Bishop Samuel Seabury consecrated a third building which served well until the present stone structure was built in 1870.

The 1970s found Trinity developing a significant outreach program, as we helped fund the construction of a parish house for St. Luke's, New Haven, an inner-city church, actively engaged in the formation of Amos House and Interfaith Aids in Danbury, Youth services and the Family Counseling Center in Newtown. At the same time, the Eucharist became central in the church's spiritual life.

The Reverend Stephen Gushee guided Trinity through the liturgical changes of the decade. We studied and used the "trial liturgies" made available by the national Church, so that we were ready to embrace the new Book of Common Prayer when it was finally adopted in 1976. The interior of the church was remodeled to accommodate a free standing altar, underscoring the fact that the Eucharist had become the focus of our worship and the laity was given back their significant role in worship.

The Reverend Frank Dunn was rector at Trinity from 1979 to 1992. During his tenure Trinity's membership grew and became known for strong lay ministry. We established a Pastoral Care program to enable parishioners to help each other in times of crisis as well as continuing the strong outreach programs begun in the 70’s.

The decade of the 1980’s saw us purchasing a two-manual 26-rank Austin organ, establishing youth choirs, and organizing and greatly expanding the parish library.

The position of Church School Director was added to our salaried staff in the 1970s, Assistant clergy and Administrative Assistant in the 1980s, Children’s and Youth Education Minister in 2007 and Associate Rector in 2006.

The Reverend Kathleen Adams-Shepherd is the current rector arriving in January of 1996. The parish accomplished a successful capital campaign in 2000 providing for major renovations throughout the church and parish house. This was done with the intent of becoming a place of welcome for all ages seeking God and desiring to engage in spiritual formation and growth as well as the lively conversation of faith. The parish continues to grow. As a result, a third Sunday morning worship opportunity was added in September 2005. This has allowed space in worship for further parish growth. It is a marvelous gift that we welcome new individuals and families among us week after week. The gifts they bring among us are an incredible joy. Trinity is committed to the spiritual lives of every person who finds their home here and in our spiritual journeys we find a compelling call from our Lord to share these journeys with those yearning for God’s presence beyond our doors.

Trinity is a community of faith with open hearts, minds and hands, grounded in tradition, engaged in the present, investing in the future and always growing in the love of Christ. You are a stranger here only once. It would be our great joy to welcome you among us.