THE HISTORY OF TRINITY                                                   by Bill Cowls

Trinity's first church, the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, was built in 1841.  It was a wooden white frame building on the corner of Church and Benton Streets, in Berlin, now Kitchener.  At that time, Berlin was a hamlet with no post office, no railroad, no sidewalks, no free school and no court of law.  Money was counted in pounds, shillings and pence.  The German language and Pennsylvania Dutch dialect were used almost exclusively.  Partridge were plentiful and wild pigeons darkened the sky;  deer and bears were not uncommon here.  Terrible diseases visited the people - cholera, small pox and consumption and there were no hospitals, no vaccination, no anesthesia - none of the marvelous medicines that we have today.

 

Our first chapel seated 120 people and cost $1,000 to build.  The acre of land on which it was erected was donated by a member of the church and cost him 25 pounds - about $50 in today's money.  Our first minister was the Rev. George Ferguson who was known as an old war horse.  A former circuit rider, he kept a most interesting diary as he rode through the area, visiting all the people in the bush country near Berlin.  He told in his diary how the first meetings were held in barns, particularly in the barn of the Ellis brothers in Hespeler, which was crammed every Sunday.  The services were very evangelistic.  Describing a service, Mr. Ferguson said in part, "The Chapel was filled with the spirit of God.  Many acted as did the cripple at the Temple Gate, when he was healed by Peter.  They leaped and praised God.  I closed my poor sermon on my knees and the house was vocal with the cries of the saved."

The chapel was used until 1875 when it became too small.  The congregation then bought the former 25-year-old township hall on Queen Street, now the huge commercial Commerce Building.  The building was purchased for $200.  A member of the congregation borrowed the necessary funds from his employer and bought the building for the church.  The minister's salary was $300 a year, plus $310 table expenses and $65 for horse allowance.  He was also paid $100.19 for the support of his children, and $10 traveling expenses. The organ was pumped by hand by a young man hidden from the congregation. Crossley and Hunger, the famous evangelists spent 4 weeks in the church conducting evangelistic services which were very successful.  The very active Ladies Aid charged 5 cents a month as a fee.  At one meeting they were each given a dollar and told to increase it to $5.00 for the church.  One woman made miles of hairpin lace and sold it at 5 yards for 25 cents; another ironed shirts at $2.00 a piece; another sold her own oil paintings at 50 cents each; another made cookies and cough medicine.  In 1904 the church and its contents, including the organ and furniture, were sold to St. Matthews Lutheran Church for $7,000 and the congregation worshipped in the Opera House and the Salvation Army barracks while the present building was being erected.  The chairs were of the kitchen variety, the piano had lost most of its musical quality; the room was poorly heated and ventilated, but the congregation endured it all and praised the Lord for His blessings.  

 

                       

The church purchased two lots on Frederick Street for $3,100 and demolished two houses, leaving one, that was known as the Church House, where our chapel now stands, but closer to the street.  The cornerstone of the present church was laid in August 1905 and the church was dedicated on June 10, 1906, when the Rev. D. W. Snider was the minister.  There were 357 members.  We now have over 1000.  Believe it or not, the new church seated 1068 people and was filled for the opening service.

 

I cannot begin to tell you of all our accomplishments since this present building was erected and additions added through the years, including the Fellowship Hall, and in 1949, the Memorial Chapel which has been just recently refurbished.  Fourteen Trinity men gave their lives in the First World War and fourteen in the Second World War.  Many ministers have preached here, including moderators and ministers from other countries.  A number of young men and women have gone into the ministry from this church.  Our outreach has been extensive.  We have given people and money to missionary enterprises throughout the world.  When church union became a reality in 1925, 140 people came to Trinity from St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Queen Street.  When the United Brethren Evangelical Church joined the United Church of Canada the official service was held in this church.

 

Through the years Trinity has assisted in the formation of St. Paul's College, at the University of Waterloo as well as other congregations in the twin cities.  Between 1947 and 1963 Trinity transferred a total of 1197 members to help start other congregations in this community:  106 to St. James-Rosemount; 109 to Highland Road; 43 to the Church of Christ the King; 105 to Parkminster; 60 to Forest Hill United and 766 to 'all others'.

 

This church is constantly used by many community organizations and is an extremely busy place. English classes and life skills classes for East Asians have been held at Trinity and a deaf congregation met here for quite a while in the Hearth Room on Sunday mornings.  A Hungarian congregation also met here.  The tremendously successful Counseling Centre operated from this building from 1962 when it began until 1985 when their offices were moved to larger quarters at 127 Frederick Street.  Trinity helped in its establishment, provided space for its operations, and continues to support financially.

 

Trinity has always been a progressive church with outreach to others in Canada and other lands.

 

Trinity improved the access to the building in 1982 putting in an elevator for physically challenged persons, and those who find steps difficult.

 

We remember with gratitude the magnificent contributions of those members of the congregation of this church who went before us, who built up this church through trials and tribulations, in good times and bad, and who had faith that their church would succeed in an ever-changing world.

 

Note:  Bill Cowls was the editor of Trinity News from 1968 until 1980 and Trinity's archivist from 1980 until his death in August 1989.  He was beloved by all who knew him or benefited from his many talents, his special brand of humour and his unflinching faith as a Christian.  Bill Cowls shared his gifts unsparingly for 66 years with the church he so dearly loved.

 

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