Trinity's history began with the arrival of the circuit
rider from the Mission at St. Mary's in 1829. In 1832, Trinity's
meeting
place was a little log courthouse that stood on the northeast corner
of Spring and Main Streets. In 1835, Trinity moved to its own
building
on the corner of Union and Market Streets. By that time, Lima had
grown to a 300-person settlement.
The second church was a larger building and was
erected on the same lot in 1852. It was a two-story building with
the first story constructed of red brick and the second was frame
with a steeple and a bell. The bell can still be viewed within Trinity's
current structure. Like its predecessors, the building was used
for several years for worship and educational purposes. It cost
$4,000.00 to build.
In 1871, the first step toward the third church
took place when land was purchased on the corner of Market and Elizabeth
streets. By this time, Lima was a thriving village of 4,500 and
the church thought it was time to move west, away from "all
business and noise!" Because of the panic of 1873, the building
project was slowed and completion/ dedication was delayed until
1876. The church was an imposing one with its tall spire. The final
cost of the church and parsonage was $65,000.00.
One of our historians made this comment about this
third Trinity; "Old Trinity served the community during its
most romantic era - and during its period of fastest growth."
One of Trinity's own members, Ben Faurot, found oil on his land
in 1885 and Lima became a boomtown. From a population of 4,500 in
1871, Lima grew to over 30,000 by 1910.
But things were changing by 1910. The sanctuary,
some distance above ground level, was not easy to access by the
elderly. The building's acoustics had become unsatisfactory to many
and modern fire regulations said there were too few exits. The Sunday
School, under John Davison's leadership, had grown tremendously
and additional educational spaces were needed. So, by 1909, a building
committee was organized and a larger lot on the southwest corner
of Market and West streets was purchased. In January of 1910, the
committee gave the architect their ideas about what was wanted.
By
June, the contract was let and work began in September. A Tudor
Gothic style was chosen and the famous Bedford limestone was the
selected building material. The original building of today's Trinity
cost $145,000.00. The last worship service in the red brick church
was appropriately held on Christmas Eve in 1911. From old Trinity,
the communion service, pulpit, bell and pews were brought to the
new building.
Several minor changes were made to the original
building over the years in an effort to meet the demands of a growing
congregation and program. The pipe organ, installed after the dedication,
was rebuilt in 1936 and an echo organ was added in 1948.
In 1961, the sanctuary was remodeled and the education
addition was competed on the south side of the main building. It
consisted of three floors and included classroom space for preschoolers,
a chapel and parlor, and a youth lounge. In 1984, Trinity again
remodeled our existing sanctuary and created a place for gathering
before and after worship, and built the building over the parking
lot that houses our office area and a multi-purpose room.
During its long history, Trinity has worn her title
of "leader" well and has always been one of the largest
and most centrally located meeting places in Lima and continues
to be so today. It has thrown open its doors on numerous occasions
for evangelistic services, interdenominational programs and more
than a normal share of wedding and funeral services. It has served
the community in such significant ways as being a Red Cross blood
bank and polling site, hosting organ and other music recitals, union
services, open forums, the Lima Choral Society, and a city-wide
choir clinic. It helped launch five other Methodist churches, produced
numerous community leaders including at least three mayors, and
members played leading roles in the establishment of the YMCA. But
its primary importance is the role-played in leading thousands to
Jesus Christ.
Although we are blessed with wonderful facilities we are
also blessed with a wonderful history of helping persons "Know
Christ, Grow in Christ and Sow for Christ." It was decided
in 1993 that we would take seriously the biblical understanding
that everyone was a minister of Jesus Christ. The Trinity of today
strives to help people "Know Christ, Grow in Christ and Sow
for Christ" by providing every member the opportunity to discern
the ministry God has uniquely equipped and called them to do. Each
member makes a commitment during our yearly In His Steps Stewardship
Campaign of how they believe God wants them to use their prayers,
presence, gifts and service to support the ministries of Jesus Christ
through Trinity United Methodist Church on their journey of faith.
