The History of Trinity United Church
Honouring Our Roots
Walking into our church is like walking through history - with beautiful, detailed architecture that gives the space a warm, rich ambience. The building itself speaks to some of its history with its traditional construction, but it does not tell everything.
Our church comes from humble roots and has a long, enriching history. The congregation continues to take great care in maintenance, repairs and updates, so that our building and its history stands tall and strong. With God as our strength and refuge, we embrace our future.
To appreciate how far we’ve come, we must know where we started, and our story begins in the late 1800’s. Having endured countless triumphs and changes — including a devastating fire — our church has quite literally been reworked from the ground-up. This is why concepts of change and growth define who we are today, because it is such a big part of our history.
We pay tribute to our long and vast history and celebrate it as being a core part of shaping the congregation we have become.
Our Covenant with W.O.W.
Trinity is part of the Western Ontario Waterways Region of The United Church of Canada.
As part of this larger fellowship, we are rooted in the rich heritage of ministry and mission of The United Church and its founding denominations in this region and across Canada. In November 2021, we celebrated our covenant with the Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council at a special worship service held jointly with Atwood United Church. In preparation for this service, we identified three symbols that inspire us as a community of faith.
Our Stained-Glass Windows
Trinity's sanctuary is awash in colour from the stained-glass windows which surround the sanctuary depicting various biblical scenes. Many of the windows have been placed in memory of loved ones who have faithfully served church and community. On sunny days as well as cloudy ones, we are inspired towards the transformation of self and world by these representations of our sacred story.
An Open Door
Trinity's newly refinished doors open to each of the four directions: north, south, east and west. They remind us of our commitment as a church family to welcome with open arms people from the four corners of the world and of all ages, all abilities, all gender identities, all sexual orientations, all ethnicities and races, and all economic or family circumstances. As an inclusive community, we seek to offer renewal, hope and support to everyone who walks through our doors.
The Magi's Journey Mural
For decades, a hand-crafted mural depicting the Magi's journey to Bethlehem to find the Christ Child has been displayed at the front of the sanctuary throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons. This mural was created by long-time members Clara Galway and Oliver Karges. Its journey motif reminds us not only of the wise ones and their courage in following the star to find Jesus but also of our own daily walk with Jesus and all of the learning, exploration and growth that we experience as we seek to follow in the way of Christ.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
– Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Monumental Moments
Looking back through the years at Trinity
