Trinity Baptist Church of Jacksonville history

Trinity was founded June 15, 1882 by sixteen Swedish Christians as The First Swedish Baptist Church in Bridgeport, CT.

With property donated by P.T. Barnum, in honor of Jenny Lind (known as the Swedish Nightengale), the first church building was constructed in 1884 on Seeley St (photo above).

Then, as the congregation grew and prospered, it bought its own building on 27th Street in 1893.

In 1899, it purchased a larger church on 55th Street, from which it ministered to the growing influx of Swedish immigrants.

In 1906, there were 185 baptized believers and a large ministry among young people.

Trinity Baptist Church grew out of a Sunday School that began in June 1917 in Normandie Hall, then located at Normandie Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard, with fifteen children and three adults.

In 1920, a new, larger sanctuary was built on Colorado Ave.

New Building In 1929, a building boom, accompanied by rising property values, enabled the congregation to sell its worn-out building to developers.

Services were held in the Cummings' home until an auditorium was built in July, 1942 on the corner of Van Buren and Birch.

On May 2, 1947 forty-four believers came together and formed Trinity Baptist Church in Enid Oklahoma.

The first meeting to make plans for organizing a new Baptist Church on Six Forks Road was held Sunday afternoon, September 11, 1955, at the home of Mr. and Mrs.

In 1958, a sister church, Long Hill Baptist, was founded in Trumbull with 22 members.

In 1961, at a celebration day, remembering the founding of Trinity Baptist Church, one member wrote,"Some of you are Charter Members.

In 1962 new lots were purchased, which led to the building of a new educational wing, and a parsonage.

The first service was held in the new sanctuary on April 6, 1972 under Pastor John Dischinger.

They were voted into office at a business meeting held on January 5, 1973.

Later, in 1975 the parsonage purchased by Calvary Baptist Church was demolished and a new youth educational wing was built, attached to the back of the sanctuary, along with a pastor's study.

When all the renovations were completed and the extension finished a service of praise and dedication was called for on February 28, 1976.

In 1981, at a home coming celebration, thirty five years after the founding of Trinity Baptist Church, one member prayed,

Doctor Mason retired as pastor of Trinity on March 31, 1985.

In 1986, the sanctuary, foyer, and classrooms were expanded and a new gym/gathering hall was added.

In 1987 a further addition was made to the building as "the wing" was built, giving us an excellent and much needed facility for mid week activities, Sunday School classes and fellowship hours.

In March 1993, the Trinity church family elected Reverend Eugene H. Marzette, Sr. as its Interim Pastor.

Reverend Marzette resigned in April 1995.

On June 29, 1997, after the writing of this article, but prior to the celebration of the church’s 25th anniversary for which it was penned, the Lord called our Pastor out of this world to his heavenly home.

In the spring of 1998 options were examined by the Board, such as purchasing an existing facility, putting up a new building on the present site or elsewhere, or starting another work.

In January 2000, Trinity received a gift from the sale of the church in London that had been pastored by Brian Robinson.

Doctor Fanning resigned in 2001 and Charles Johnson was called as Trinity’s third pastor.

Finally, on March 15, 2003, after the Lord brought in the last of the required funds, the ground breaking ceremony took place and the long anticipated new church building was underway!

Pastor Muller and his wife Heather ministered to believers in Malaysia over a 3 week period in May/June, 2004.

Following Charles Johnson’s resignation, the church entered an extensive period of self- evaluation under the leadership of Doctor Karl Fickling, with Doctor Randall O’Brian as interim preacher, before calling Doctor D. Leslie Hollon as pastor in 2009.