History of Trinity

October 1903

The Presbytery of Puget Sound asked the Rev. Robert Cooper to establish a church near Greenlake in Seattle.  There were four families from First United Presbyterian Church living in the vicinity and no churches nearby.  Lots were purchased at North 75th Street and Orin Court for the establishment of a new church.

March 4, 1904

The Presbytery commissioned Dr. W. A. Spaulding and the Session of First United Presbyterian Church to effect an organization to be known as the Olympic Court United Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Robert E. Cooper as pastor.  Its membership of 18 persons consisted of five families, the Johnstones, John Clarks, William Clarks, the Besses, and the Blairs.

Services were held in a tent put up on a wood frame until the new building, a "Swiss Cottage" church was built by the firm of Bliss, Brown, and Wilken at 7514 Orin Court. It took 18 months and cost $2613.  The church had a sanctuary, Sunday School room, and primary department on the first floor and a classroom and utilities in the basement.

On Sunday, November 6, 1904, Dr. W. A. Spaulding preached the dedicatory sermon. Later, a parsonage was built and the church was enlarged and remodeled several times. (This original building still exists along with the bell tower and bell in it.  It is now a private home.)

1933

The church's name was changed to Green Lake Presbyterian Church.

June 8, 1951

The congregation initiated a movement to relocate the church. This proposal received careful consideration. Several of the church families lived north of the church in an area called Parkwood, between North 155th and North 185th Streets and east of Aurora Avenue.  The pastor at the time, Rev. Barnes found a two-acre site at North 160th St and Stone Ave that could be purchased for $6,800.  There were no churches in the immediate vicinity and no Presbyterian churches within miles.

October 2, 1951

A contract was signed with Mr. Turner, architect, to make plans for a new church, and at the congregational meeting held on January 18, 1952, the name "Trinity" was chosen for the church.

December 7, 1952

The last worship service was held at the Greenlake church building. The first service in the new location was held December 14, 1952. The new church building was dedicated January 11, 1953. The new building is the low brick section of the current larger building. There was a sanctuary with a large meeting room under the sanctuary. A half flight down from the sanctuary were multiple classrooms for Sunday School and restrooms. A half flight up was an area that could open to the sanctuary with a folding wall to expand seating and to use for meals. That level also had offices for staff.

December 10, 1961

A new landmark was reached in the life of the church when ground was broken for a new, larger sanctuary and fellowship hall.

December 25, 1962

On Christmas morning, December 25, 1962 there were 550 people crowded into the two services that inaugurated the worship services in the new sanctuary which continues in use. Through subsequent years the old building underwent many renovations and updates.

February, 2004

Trinity celebrated 100 years of ministry and mission.  A grand celebration was held that was attended by several previous pastors, many former members, as well current church members. A set of banners was constructed on which the last names of all members for the 100 years were embroidered.

August 7, 2011  Merger with Bethel Presbyterian Church

During the first half of 2011 a commission of the Seattle Presbytery worked on behalf of Trinity and Bethel Presbyterian Churchs as they examined the potential for joining their two congregations. Founded almost 100 years ago, Bethel decided that their small size was not viable going forward. The Rev. Jim Berkeley had been the designated pastor at Bethel and his contracted term of service ended on July 31.

With great joy, the Trinity congregation welcomed the Bethel congregation to life and worship together with a joining worship service on Sunday, August 7, 2011. The Rev. Randall Butler as senior pastor of Trinity remained as the senior pastor of the combined churches.

April 1, 2013  Partnership with Vineyard Community Church

After six months of prayer, meetings, and planning, the Vineyard Community Church moved in to share space in the Trinity church building. VCC needed a new home, our mission and values were congruent, and both churches saw the opportunity to serve more effectively by collaborative action than each could do separately.  This was not a merger. Each church maintained its own identity with its own worship service, its own governance, and its own budget. However, the two churches worked together on ministry and outreach. The first year was designated as one of discernment to determine if God was leading this to be a long term relationship. In spring 2014 the Session of Trinity and the Board of VCC determined that God was leading us to continue the relationship and a long term contract was established. When the membership of the Vineyard church declined, they decided to become a home church and ceased using the Trinity building for worship. They continued to maintain an office at Trinity.

Fall, 2013 Turning Point Non-profit (renamed Canopy in 2021) Establishes Its Home at Trinity

Turning Point is a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of disadvantaged children and their families in our community. Each week their Homework Factory conducted in the Fellowship Hall gathers students and volunteer tutors to assist the children to success in school. Turning Point has also conducted summer day camp for students and provided a supportive network for their families. Trinity assists in the financial support of Turning Point and members act as volunteers along with others from the community.

2021, In the midst of the pandemic God presents opportunity—the Rehoboth Center for Christian Worship

Officers of the Rehoboth Center for Christian Worship, a congregation of Ethiopian immigrant families approached Trinity about renting space in our building. Their worship space was part of a private school that would no longer be available.  After prayerful discussions and meetings, the Rehoboth congregation began worshipping at Trinity in July in the Bethany space with their choir using Cana and their leadership using an office in the building.  They expressed their concern about the lack of a church school for their children that had meant the loss of some families. In the spring of 2022, Rehoboth leadership approached Trinity’s leadership about having members of Trinity conduct a church school in English for their children. With glad hearts Trinity accepted this challenge and assembled a teaching team. Pastor Wendy Taylor identified an appropriate curriculum and classes were started in April with 15 to 20 students attending.

In the years since the founding of Trinity, many different pastors have served the congregation, hundreds of members have passed through its doors, and there have been numerous upgrades and improvements made to the building and its grounds. The congregation continues to serve God and share his love in this location. While the people and pastors may change over the years, the name of our church reminds us that the Trinity (God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) never changes.