History

Trinity Church Timeline

Founding Era (1839-1860)

  • 1839 – Episcopalians began meeting at Epsom Chapel, a Methodist church on the current site of Towson Center’s parking garage
  • 1856 – “Parties resident in Towsontown” petitioned for permission to organize a new Episcopal congregation
  • 1858 – Trinity Church, Towsontown constitution approved; Rev. John Francis Hoff became the first rector
  • 1860 – Trinity’s limestone church building, designed by architect Norris G. Starkweather with stone donated by John Ridgely of Hampton, was dedicated on Ascension Day (May 20)

Civil War and Recovery (1861-1910s)

  • 1861-1865 – The Civil War divided Trinity’s congregation between Confederate and Union sympathizers; Rev. Hoff worked to maintain peace
  • Post-Civil War – Trinity faced challenges rebuilding after the divisive war years
  • 1870s-1880s – Gradual recovery with major additions: spire and south porch (1870), Sunday School building (1875), rectory (1883)
  • 1882 – Rev. William Henry Harrison Powers became the second rector
  • 1885 – Trinity Church consecrated on October 13
  • 1888 – Trinity opened its first mission, the Chapel of the Holy Comforter in Lutherville
  • 1900 – Trinity had grown to 250 communicants and 150 Sunday School students
  • 1906 – Trinity opened its second mission, the Church of the Good Shepherd

New Energy and Challenges (1918-1939)

  • 1918 – Rev. Henry Bedinger Lee, Jr. became Trinity’s third rector, bringing new energy during the post-WWI era
  • 1920 – The Church of the Good Shepherd became independent
  • 1920s – As Towson’s population doubled, Rev. Lee modernized the Sunday School and established youth programs; attendance soared from 50 to 130 students
  • 1926 – The chancel was expanded as a memorial to Rev. Powers
  • 1930s – The Great Depression and competition from new churches led to reduced activity and contributions

World War II and Post-War Boom (1940s-1960s)

  • 1944 – Rev. William Christian Roberts became Trinity’s fourth rector
  • 1949 – Memorial Parish Hall opened to accommodate explosive post-war growth
  • 1951 – Trinity became a “free” church, eliminating pew rents and expanding voting rights beyond male pew owners to other adult males
  • 1950s – Tremendous growth: Sunday School reached 500 students, with 760 communicants by 1952
  • 1954 – New church school building opened
  • 1960 – Trinity celebrated its centennial with the addition of the East transept; the Endowment Fund was established

Modern Era and Adaptation (1970s-Present)

  • 1967 – For the first time, women gained equal voting rights and vestry eligibility; Helen Hoddy Stickle became the first woman elected to vestry (1969)
  • 1969 – Rev. P. Kingsley Smith became the fifth rector
  • 1970-2008 – Significant membership decline as American religious patterns shifted and more Episcopal churches opened locally: communicants fell from 1,332 in 1970 to 604 in 1995 to 441 in 2008; average Sunday attendance dropped from 235 in 1995 to 154 in 2008. Despite these challenges, Trinity remained committed to community outreach, sponsoring refugees and maintaining local ministries
  • 1979 – Trinity adopted both traditional (Rite I) and contemporary (Rite II) worship services
  • 1982 – The Chapel of the Holy Comforter became independent; Trinity introduced a family-friendly 9:30 service
  • 1989 – Major church renovation (“Trinity 2000” plan) modernized facilities while preserving historic character
  • 1997 – Trinity Episcopal Children’s Center opened, expanding community service; Rev. James Ransom became the sixth rector
  • 2003 – Trinity began hosting the Trinity Episcopal Korean Congregation. The Korean Anglican Church later relocated to Lutherville in 2010 as an independent congregation
  • 2009 – Rev. Ken Saunders became seventh rector
  • 2019 – Rev. Henrietta (“Rhetta”) L. Wiley became eighth rector and Trinity’s second woman rector
  • 2020 – Adapted to Covid-19 with live streaming services and Wednesday Night Live online prayer
  • 2022 – Unity Fellowship Church of Columbia began worshiping at Trinity Church
  • 2025 – Maryland Presbyterian Church began worshiping at Trinity’s Guild Room in Memorial Hall

Trinity Church has served the Towson community for over 185 years, growing from 13 founding communicants to a vibrant parish that continues to adapt while honoring its rich heritage.